Meat Buyer

Job Summary

The Meat Buyer is responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels and for developing and maintaining detailed reporting of purchasing and supplier information to proactively improve the efficiency of the purchasing team.

Responsibilities

• Buy Meat merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers and maintains appropriate back stock levels.
• Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
• Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
• Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices.
• Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
• Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
• Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory.
• Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
• Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
• Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise.
• Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
• Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number.
• Train or supervise sales or clerical staff.
• Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run.
• Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media.
• Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions.
• Compare transportation options to determine the most energy-efficient options.
• Develop strategies to advertise meat products or merchandise to consumers.
• Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new meat products.
• Analyzes and controls product transfers, waste, and spoilage.
• Supports leadership in conducting inventories.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Requirement Qualifications

• Understands and applies buyer / procurement concepts, principles and practices.
• Develops and applies buying / procurement practices that meet company and customer expectations, ensure quality, and maximize savings and efficiencies.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills and high levels of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Able to negotiate mutually beneficial supplier / producer arrangements, terms and conditions.
• Applies analytical skills to evaluate and interpret purchasing, procurement, contract, delivery, quality, pricing, and other issues.
• Creates spreadsheets, charts and reports that contain relevant projections and performance data that can be clearly understood by diverse audiences.
• Applies a customer-focused sensibility when analyzing business prospects and / or performing ongoing work activities.
• Team-player with a positive attitude and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Works effectively with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.
• Displays strong levels of customer service.