What does it mean to be part of the UNFI Procurement Team?  

The Procurement team is a key contributor to UNFI and is responsible for strategic planning, purchasing, and management of over $2B in inventory.  The procurement teams work hand in hand to support our customers and suppliers' needs, while achieving the goal of providing high service levels, and working towards creating new innovative solutions to drive UNFI's growth. Partnering with our suppliers and customers, we strive to make them stronger, our supply chain better, and our food solutions more inspired. 

Job Overview:
The Procurement Specialist is responsible for providing administrative support to Buyers and various Procurement functional operations.  Individuals assist with department organization and execution of projects and functions. Provides Buyers and leadership team with the most up to date information and reporting. Works closely with inbound logistics team and scheduling to ensure product is received in an efficient manner.

Job Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the effective and accurate performance of assigned clerical and procurement functions.

• Collects and updates data/information for department use within special projects or reports.

• Assists and supports department personnel as needed. Resolves requests, questions, and problems promptly.

• Updates internal systems with purchase order details (dates, quantities, discounts, etc.).

• Keeps leadership informed of area activities and of any significant problems or concerns.

• Executes against reports such as the daily lost sales reports and open purchase order reports and compiles information to share with the buyers, operations, transportation, and vendors as necessary.

• Responsible for maintaining effective, professional business relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Obtains and conveys information courteously and promptly.

• Maintains and projects the Company’s professional reputation.

• Creates and adjusts purchase orders as needed or directed.

• Communicates with suppliers regarding order confirmation as well as status checks on estimated time of arrival and requests for expedited delivery.

• Obtains and conveys information such as inventory checks as needed. Works with procurement team and internal stakeholder on issues with inventory at the DC.

• Responsible for identifying problems, offering solutions, and executing results.

• Compiles information and data from various sources for specific departmental reports, and creates reports, graphs, and data comparisons/analysis.

• Posts records and processes departmental documents requiring specific knowledge of functional area.

• Reviews information/data and makes decisions within well-defined guidelines, parameters, and instruction.

• Trains new team members on job tasks.

• Acts as a resource to staff in work group.

• Performs expediting functions in support of the procurement department. Works closely with Inbound and scheduling team to ensure product is scheduled and received at assigned area in an efficient manner.

• Performs other relevant job duties as required.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred or equivalent experience.

Experience:

• 1+ years of relevant experience.

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities:

• Have a beginner’s knowledge of procurement and logistics processes.

• UBS and WBS system knowledge.

• Knowledge of large-scale distribution networks.

• Understanding of grocery categories.

• Self-motivated and organized, ability to execute daily workload with little direct oversight.

• Strong analytical and math skillset.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.

• Capable of learning and utilizing multiple disparate systems.

• Ability to investigate and analyze information and to draw conclusions.

• Good problem-solving capabilities.

• Mindset of continuous improvement.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

• Ability to use own judgement to make decisions and drive results.

• Can work independently as well as with a larger group.

•  Assigned work will be aligned to a region.

• Specialists assigned to Whole Foods Market Exclusive Brands will remain aligned to the natural business unit and will be aligned nationally versus regionally.

• Forward buy process for the buying group needs extensive time and attention to manage the off invoice (OI) process as it is a frequent component to the natural business unit. This process requires management of OI deals that the buyer role must consider and analyze based on inventory.

• Within the natural business unit, the number of suppliers and number of items requires management of many different touch points with slower moving items to ensure metrics remain within designated range.

• Time and attention must be paid to the cross-dock process which is prevalent within natural business units.

• Performs other relevant job duties as required.

• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available. 

Work Environment:

Remote Role:

• This position is classified as remote, where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office regularly, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

 Physical Environment/Demands:

Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.

• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.

• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

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