Buyer/LTC Merchant

Griffin Resources is recruiting on behalf of Heinemann Americas, Inc. located in Coral Gables, FL.

Established in 2014 as a subsidiary of Germany-based Gebr. Heinemann, Heinemann Americas has grown into a key player in cruise ship retail and distribution. Backed by over 140 years of global travel retail expertise, the Coral Gables–based team specializes in delivering luxury retail experiences for the cruise industry. They manage and operate state-of-the-art retail concessions aboard major cruise lines, curating an exceptional selection of premium perfumes, cosmetics, fashion, and accessories to provide passengers with a world-class shopping experience at sea. Through strong partnerships with leading cruise operators, Heinemann Americas has established itself as the premier provider of maritime travel retail solutions in the region.

Position Summary:

The Buyer – Liquor, Tobacco & Confectionery plans and incorporates strategic purchasing plans using market, supplier, and customer data. This candidate must be a strategist who will drive negotiations with brand partners and select compelling product assortments in line with market trends and aligned to targeted demographics. Collaborate with vendor community on emerging trends, assortments, and business strategies; Responsible for negotiating long-term and short-term transactions with vendors: margin, channel pricing, promotions, payment terms, incoterms, route to market, A&P investments, and assortment efficiency. Goal oriented to continuously improve vendor terms & conditions and reaching category and department KPI’s.

Location: Hybrid role based in Coral Gables, FL – in-office 3 days per week

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manages and fosters vendor relationships to build long term relationships, establishing trust and ensuring profitable and sustainable growth.
• Negotiation – seek continuous improvement of vendor terms and conditions to achieve KPI’s. Responsible for reviewing vendor price proposals, and negotiate channel price improvements as well as margin maintenance support for activating promotions and achieve competitive advantage.
• Analytics –Possess strong business acumen and financial analysis skills. Analyze sales trends against brand targets and partners with Category Management and Activity Management to develop brand optimization strategies.
• Establishes pricing in the Travel Retail Sector. Conducts price analysis of international, domestic and travel retail markets to ensure competitive pricing across whole assortment
• Leads the successful creation, execution and maintenance of a line plan for assigned product categories that contribute to the financial success of the company
• Proactively gathers, analyzes and drives insight from the competitive landscape, Sales and Category Management teams and cross functional partners across all channels for pre-season planning and hindsight assortment reviews
• Owns assortment planning, product selection and assortment architecture via product clusters for assigned categories
• Collaborates with internal cross-functional partners in the management of full product lifecycle for all products and novelty launches in the assigned categories; including marketing, visual merchandising, promotions/activity management, as well as exit strategies that protect brand integrity and minimize margin impact
• Cooperate with global counterparts within assigned product categories for alignment and collaboration around global supply partners.
• Present and secure brand commitments for new retail projects as well as approval of distribution requests for wholesale customers.
• Partners with Demand Planning and Retail planning to review and submit forecasts to suppliers as a way ensure product availability and optimum fill rates.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Financial Responsibilities:

• Conducts gross margin models and negotiates channel pricing for overall category improvement.
• Negotiates vendor terms and conditions: payment terms, incoterms, A&P Investments, margin maintenance and rebates.
• Responsible for obtaining inventory markdown, liquidation, and / or destruction support from vendors to reduce aging inventory.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, or related field.
• 5 years as buyer, experience in liquor category preferred.
• An understanding of the retail environment / FMCG.
• Strong retail math and analytical skills.
• Travel retail experience preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong analytical skills, financial aptitude, & retail math understanding.
• BI knowledge is required.
• Sourcing and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and presentations skills.
• Strong computer skills: Excel & PowerPoint.
• SAP knowledge is preferred.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those requirements employees must meet to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. While performing job functions the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, write, review and type reports, compile data, operate a pc, communicate, listen, and assess information. The employee may move about the office complex, may travel to other office locations, and may lift, push, pull or move 10 – 15 pounds. Visual requirements include distant, close and color vision, and ability to adjust focus; ability to travel, as well as to balance and walk far distances, and to climb stairs as necessary.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. The environment includes working inside/outside the office and traveling to warehouses and vessels; there will be loud noises, dust and dirt, and other natural factors affecting the environment outside the office. Travel up to 15%.