Job Description

Direct, develop and support Planning and Execution Buying team to consistently provide fresh, high-quality items with maximum shelf life and low cost to our customers. Lead department replenishment to achieve strong performance as measured by key benchmarks. Coordinate communication and integration with other parts of the organization (e.g., replenishment Center of Excellence, divisions. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.
- Oversee replenishment of product within a given department
- Manage team of buyers within a given department
- Work with associated Merchandising director(s) to understand buying strategy for the department
- Implement and maintain standard mechanisms for collaboration between buyers, Merchandising and other Supply Planning & Execution (SP&E) players
- Support buyers in troubleshooting complex product flow issues and, as needed, working with buyers on critical or difficult vendors to mitigate issues
- Partner with Merchandising directors, division and Supply Chain (SC) counterparts to support product flow and division needs
- Maintain a high-level understanding of promos within the department and help provide (as needed) strategic buying inputs
- Mediate and resolve any cross-category buying issues with multi-category vendors/POs
- Lead project management and support company-wide replenishment initiatives
- Escalate relevant vendor or personnel issues to senior director, Supply Planning and Execution (via Fresh buying lead for Fresh-related issues)
- Understand, maintain, and report on team's KPIs to leadership for visibility
- Drive and implement any changes to processes, ways of working, collaboration mechanisms, etc. amongst the team
- Provide inputs to hiring of buyers within department
- Provide regular input on buyers' performance for performance reviews
- Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
Minimum
- Bachelor's Degree related field or equivalent years of experience
- Any buying experience replenishing distribution centers
- 5+ years of experience in replenishment/procurement, merchandising, operations, or supply chain
- Ability to monitor compliance with established guidelines, policies, procedures, and regulations
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio)
- Demonstrated ability to prepare, interpret and make decisions based on qualitative and quantitative data
- Demonstrated leadership capability and ability to influence others without formal authority
- Excellent communication/presentation (oral and written) skills to effectively communicate information to stakeholders at all levels both internal and external
- Strong analytical, problem solving and root cause identification skills

Desired
- Master's Degree business administration or supply chain
- Any exposure to Kroger Category Management System Data Warehouse and Business Objects
- Any produce buying experience replenishing distribution centers