Buyer

Original job posting

The Buyer is responsible for managing UPC-based product inventory, executing purchase orders, and maintaining freshness standards to meet sales and service level targets. They will also analyze historical data to forecast demand and collaborate with suppliers to ensure optimal stock levels and cost-effective freight management.

Job details

Embark on a rewarding career with Sobeys Inc., celebrated among Canada’s Top 100 employers where your unique contributions drive success. Overview Sobeys offers exciting opportunities for talented individuals to join our team. We are currently seeking a Buyer to join our team. This role will actively support our customers through excellence in procurement and is a great opportunity for someone with inventory control or supply chain experience to take the next step in their career. Here’s where you’ll be focusing: Purchase and manage UPC-based products, including reviewing forecasts, inventory levels, promotional activity, and supplier availability to execute purchase orders that support sales, service level targets, and freshness standards. Maintain Freshness – Daily review of inventory, sales, and upcoming POs to minimize shrink and sell-offs for articles that exceed the target date (1- to 5-day window, minimal safety stock). Maintain Freshness – Proactively review and identify articles that will exceed the target date (1- to 5-day window, minimal safety stock) and immediately take action as required. This may include working with CM to create a promotion and reduce the price or could result in reselling to wholesalers. Service Level – Daily review to identify and prevent out-of-stock situations, as several suppliers are listed by article. Service Level – Identify and build relationships with wholesalers or find new suppliers in the market who can provide ad hoc coverage when regular suppliers are unable to support an order. This includes negotiating to ensure they comply with our specifications, provide fair pricing, and meet required demand. Freight Optimization – Daily review to ensure trucks are maximized for weight and cube to maintain and reduce costs. Perform the replenishment process, including purchase order execution for baseline, promotional, and investment buying. Make decisions based on forecasts, seasonality, on-hand and order quantities, supplier lead time and transit time, and the Sourcing Manager’s quota file. Conduct analysis to evaluate future customer demand based on historical data. Support the development and execution of best-practice inventory management processes that will meet or exceed benchmarks for customer order fill and freshness. Adhere to the weekly buy guide and ensure that the replenishment function meets budgeted financial targets to avoid any impact to margin, contributing to the respective region and banner strategies. What you have to offer: An Undergraduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, or a DEC and a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience. Experience purchasing and replenishing UPC-managed products, including purchase order execution, inventory management, supplier collaboration, and promotional planning. Knowledge of the principles of demand forecasting and inventory planning. Extensive knowledge of Excel (intermediate level). Produce experience preferred. Bilingualism in English and French is an asset, as the candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with peers in other provinces to develop procedures and processes for national implementation. They will also interact regularly with peers in other provinces and provide support to Sobeys employees across Canada. #LI-Hybrid Who we are Sobeys is one of Canada’s leading grocery retailers, with more than 1,600 stores across all 10 provinces and banners including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawtons Drug Stores. Our 128,000 teammates and franchise affiliates are passionate about delivering great food and exceptional experiences to our customers and communities. Learn more about our story and culture: Who We Are | Why Work With Us Total Rewards We offer a Total Rewards package designed to support teammates at work and in life. Depending on role and eligibility, teammates may receive health and dental benefits, retirement and savings programs including an Employee Share Ownership Plan, a 10% in-store discount at participating banners, virtual healthcare and an Employee and Family Assistance Program, learning and development opportunities, parental leave top-up, and paid vacation. Sobeys is committed to providing a compensation structure that is flexible, equitable and competitive in the market to enable performance and growth. To learn more about this opportunity including the expected range of compensation in accordance with Pay Transparency Legislation where required please click the “I’m interested” or "Apply" button above. Individual compensation is determined based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity within the range provided. Additional Information External websites may share our organization's job postings which includes compensation information based on similar roles and market benchmarks. These figures are provided for general comparison purposes only and are not issued or verified by our organization. We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support efficiencies in the candidate screening, assessment, and recruitment processes. These AI tools do not make hiring decisions on behalf of the Company. Hiring decisions are made by our Hiring Teams. Sobeys is committed to creating accessible and inclusive hiring processes. We will work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. Please note: Successful candidates will be required to provide documentation to prove their legal ability to work in the position during the onboarding process. Documentation will be assessed by the employer prior to commencement of work.

What you’ll do

The Buyer is responsible for managing UPC-based product inventory, executing purchase orders, and maintaining freshness standards to meet sales and service level targets. They will also analyze historical data to forecast demand and collaborate with suppliers to ensure optimal stock levels and cost-effective freight management.

Requirements

Candidates must possess an undergraduate degree with at least 2 years of experience, or a DEC with at least 4 years of experience in procurement or inventory management. Proficiency in Excel and knowledge of demand forecasting and inventory planning principles are required.

Benefits

• Health benefits
• Dental benefits
• Retirement and savings programs
• Employee Share Ownership Plan
• In-store discount
• Virtual healthcare
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Learning and development opportunities
• Parental leave top-up
• Paid vacation

Listed skills

• Inventory Control · Preferred
• Supply chain management · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Negotiation · Preferred
• Demand Forecasting · Preferred
• Procurement · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Procurement
• Inventory control
• Supply chain management
• Demand forecasting
• Inventory planning
• Purchase order execution
• Supplier collaboration
• Promotional planning
• Excel
• Data analysis
• Negotiation
• Replenishment
• Freight optimization
• Produce experience
• Inventory Planning
• Procedure Development
• Virtual Health
• Supply Chain Acumen
• Bilingual (French/English)
• Planning
• Customer Demand Planning
• Demand Forecasting
• Equities
• Sales
• Forecasting
• Inventory Control
• Inventory Management
• Purchasing
• Safety Stock
• Service Level
• Wholesaling

Job areas

• Retail
• Logistics
• Management & Leadership
• Administrative
• Buyer
• Buyer (General)
• Buyers
• Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
• Buyers and Purchasing Agents