Category Buyer

Position Overview

We seek a supply chain expert to manage sourcing and procurement of products, materials, and services dedicated to wholesale distribution of beach-related commodities. This individual will ensure appropriate inventory availability matching quality, timing, and budget targets, while strategically minimizing disruptions in the supply chain. The main category responsibilities include domestic procurement of items such as Suncare products, Sand toys, Impulse games, Namedrop accessories, Drinkware, Towels, and Apparel, with the prospect to extend into import purchasing.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, research, and evaluate suppliers considering price, quality, lead times, and reputation to establish cooperative vendor partnerships.
• Manage procurement process by reviewing internal purchase requisitions, generating purchase orders within ERP platforms, and monitoring order fulfillment to assure punctual deliveries.
• Handle sales processing tasks including NOVA submissions through Walmart’s Retail Link platform and posting sales orders for drop ship purchases.
• Conduct negotiations on pricing, delivery conditions, and contracts to optimize cost efficiency and value.
• Perform inventory and demand management by analyzing sales metrics, monitoring stock, and coordinating with planning and production teams to avoid stockouts or excessive inventory.
• Address supplier discrepancies such as damaged shipments, late deliveries, or billing issues. Propose alternate available products to the sales team when primary items are unavailable.
• Engage in market trend analysis by attending trade shows, observing commodity trends, and staying alert to shifts in consumer behavior or industry developments to guide future procurement decisions.

Qualifications and Skills

• Preferred educational background includes a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, economics, or a related discipline.
• 1 to over 5 years of relevant experience in purchasing, procurement, or inventory control is required.
• Strong technical skills with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, Power BI for spend analysis, and ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics are essential. Basic accounting and budgeting mathematics skills are necessary.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and spoken; effective negotiation abilities; and excellent organizational skills capable of managing multiple open orders simultaneously are critical.
• Additional valuable skills include familiarity with the resort industry and experience in product development.