Current jobs related to Buying Manager - BATAVIA - Aldi

National Buying Services is the department dedicated to acquiring the goods that our ALDI customers count on.  Beyond working to secure quality products at the lowest possible prices through our Buying and support teams (Administration, Merchandising, Pricing, Quality Assurance, Analytics and more), our teams ensure we are providing the best value and quality in everything we do.

The Buying Manager role involves purchasing non-food product to be sold in all ALDI locations across the nation and managing the categories for which they oversee. Candidates should have a strong retail background, negotiation skills, and the ability to identify trends to meet customer needs. This position offers the opportunity to shape ALDI's product offerings and enhance customer satisfaction in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Position Type: Full-Time
Work Location: Batavia, IL
This role is eligible to participate in ALDI’s Hybrid Work Program, which allows remote work up to 2 days per week (i.e., work remotely up to 2 days per week; work in-office at least 3 days per week).

Duties and Responsibilities:
Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Supports leadership with the selection, assortment and variety of items.
• Assists their direct leader with decisions regarding the design and packaging of product and cases in accordance with the agreed benchmarks and policies.
• Endorses the text/copy for advertised products and recommends the text for price cards.
• Assures the training, development, and performance of their team’s staff to retain a motivated, professional workforce that achieves their career objectives.
• Recruits and recommends qualified employees for their team’s staff positions.
• Establishes, communicates and evaluates job responsibilities and performance expectations to their team to ensure mutual understanding of desired results.
• Understands the overarching company strategy while communicating and modeling the core values of the organization to create a sense of teamwork and membership among employees.
• Prepares reports showing the deliverables and concrete results of projects to communicate to leadership.
• Prepares and conducts presentations to communicate results, strategy and requested updates to the business.
• Consults their direct leader in personnel matters concerning direct reports.
• Makes recommendations and negotiates on costs with suppliers to achieve the best price for the agreed quality.
• Presents to their direct leader proposals on buying costs on all items, the listing and delisting of suppliers, and contract quantities and duration.
• Liaises with international buying operations as appropriate to make comparisons on costs and product options.
• Recommends price changes, delisting of products, and ranges/trials, which optimize sales growth and profitability to their direct leader.
• Proposes Emergency Product Withdrawals to leadership.
• Consults with leadership on the development of their team's strategy.
• Advises leadership to source external vendors for applicable services when appropriate.
• Liaises with applicable areas of the business to ensure timely and efficient communication flow.
• Consults with the business to effectively design and streamline applicable processes within the organization.
• Keeps up-to-date on external best practices and relevant changes to their field/area; communicates updates to leadership.
• Ensures quality of product meets or exceeds quality of benchmark.
• Carries out marketplace, competitor, price research, and makes recommendations based on findings.
• Ensures adherence to all legal requirements in their area of responsibility.
• Arranges and participates in product review.
• Ensures that records via company buying information systems are up-to-date and accurate at all times.
• Prepares their direct leader for and participates in National and Specialist Committees as required to establish best practice and business consistency.
• Oversees management and strategy of each promotion.
• Resolves customer complaints sent to the department.
• Manages their team by driving projects and tasks to completion through effective prioritization, work planning, resource allocation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Identifies cost-saving opportunities and potential process improvements.
• Serves as the primary link between their team’s staff and leadership to ensure understanding of company goals, objectives, and opportunities for improvement.
• Complies with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies if job responsibilities include possible access to confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job-specific Competencies:
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Consistently demonstrates the ALDI Acts Competencies as outlined for the role.
• Ability to recommend, interpret, and/or apply company policies and procedures.
• Gives attention to detail and follows instruction.
• Ability to develop rapport, trust, and open communication that enhances the growth and job performance of direct reports.
• Understands the history, strategy, organizational authority, interdependence of job duties, products, systems, and services of the company.
• Conflict management skills.
• Strong track record of leading, mentoring, and developing a team to ensure an efficient and co-operative working environment.
• Thinks critically and analytically.
• Ability to stay organized and multi-task in a professional and efficient manner.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment, consistently meeting deadlines and remaining calm under pressure.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business or a related field required.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in category management, supply chain, and retail operations required.
• Experience in a leadership role managing direct reports preferred.
• Or, a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.

Physical Requirements:

• Work may be performed in an office, remote office or a combination of both where a computer and office equipment may be used as needed to perform duties.
• Regularly required to sit, reach, grasp, stand and move from one area to another.
• Constantly and repeatedly use keyboard/mouse.
• Occasionally required to push, pull, bend, lift and move up to 25 lbs.

Travel:

• International & Domestic travel required.
• Up to 10%.

ALDI offers competitive wages and benefits, including:

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• PerkSpot National Discount Program

In addition, eligible employees are offered:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Generous Vacation Time & 7 Paid Holidays
• Up to 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave at 100% of pay
• Up to 2 Weeks Paid Caregiver Leave at 100% of pay
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life, Dependent Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance

ALDI is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual stereotyping, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), or any other protected characteristic. Employment may be contingent upon ALDI's receipt of an acceptable and job-related drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.