Job Description

From its headquarters in Salinas, Markon Cooperative, Inc. provides fresh produce purchasing, logistics, information and marketing services exclusively to its five-member distributors (Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Gordon Food Service Canada, Nicholas & Company, and Shamrock Foods Company) and their foodservice customers. A leader in food safety, quality control and innovation, Markon is also mindful of the produce industry's impact on people – from field workers to consumers. At Markon, we put people first, and we offer a culture that values teamwork, loyalty, and a commitment to excellence. Learn more about Markon at Markon.com.

We are seeking an experienced, passionate PRODUCE BUYER (PRODUCT MANAGER) to play a critical leadership role in the Purchasing Department. The ideal candidate will exercise high-level commodity expertise, negotiation, and problem-solving ability within an assigned commodity team. This position continually strives to meet the needs and expectations of customers and to provide them with a competitive edge. Product Managers mentor and train Purchasing Coordinators by identifying daily opportunities to improve proficiencies and knowledge. A good sense of humor is a plus! May be designated as a Pod Leader* which entails guiding a commodity team’s goals and results.

Responsibilities include, and are not limited to, the following:

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

• Acts as a source of knowledge within a Purchasing team; gathers market information and understands and communicates market conditions and variables
• Creates timely, accurate price sheets
• Creates competitive bids that work for customers
• Processes order bookings, order changes, and adjustments
• Tracks customers product volume and addresses shortfalls
• Performs rotating evening and Saturday on-call problem-resolution duties as the Markon management representative in off-hour situations, recognizing the time constraints needing to be addressed with shippers and produce life (on-call pay provided)

NEGOTIATION

• Acts as a resource for designated produce categories; determine market pricing levels and uses that information to offer value

• Exhibits appropriate skills to negotiate prices, products delivered sales, etc. and ensures adequate product supply to meet demand

• Builds strong procurement vendor relationships through excellent service and category expertise

• Chases availability and price deals; seeks out new products and grows designated categories through deals and promotions

TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Accepts accountability for the team’s annual growth
• Guides the work of the team’s members
• Models and provides opportunities for individual and team growth, collaboration, and success
• Effectively guides the work of support staff to ensure the timely completion of tasks

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Any combination of education and experience that provides the skills needed to successfully complete the essential functions; typically, through a Bachelor's or Associates's degree and 2+ years of produce purchasing experience. Local candidates with 3-5 years of produce buying experience strongly preferred.
• Strong computer skills, including database, Excel, Outlook and ability to learn new programs quickly
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service, both internal and external
• Ability to identify and resolve complex problems independently and with sound judgment
• Ability to consistently demonstrate accuracy, thoroughness, dependability, initiative, flexibility, enthusiasm and teamwork in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to be on-call, after hours 1-3 days per month, and work some Saturdays (on-call pay provided)

SALARY & BENEFITS Competitive salary and benefits package. This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. Employer subsidized health, vision and dental insurance effective on the first of the month following hire. 401K contribution and profit sharing after one year of employment. PTO accrual and paid holidays from date of hire.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit a resume with cover letter to Mark Shaw, VP of Operations.

MARKON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Related keywords: product manager, associate product manager, buyer

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Company Description

Markon Cooperative, Inc. consists of five independent, broadline foodservice companies in the U.S. and Canada. Although we are called Markon for short, we take the cooperative part of our name very seriously - for it is our spirit of cooperation that has made this group successful for more than 30 years. Markon is all about creating solutions for you. Whether you are a single restaurant, a multi-unit business, or anything in between, we work to make your life easier and your business more profitable. We hope you'll take a few moments in this section to see how far we've come, learn how and what we do, hear what our customers have to say about us, and meet our staff and member companies.