Assistant Buyer: Inventory & Vendor Optimization

Luxottica; Brooklyn Park (MN); Remote; USD 35,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus/Commission

Healthcare

Employee discounts

Paid time off

Job summary

Luxottica in Minneapolis is seeking an Assistant Buyer to ensure inventory needs are met and orders are submitted according to lead times and backorders. You will help maintain stock levels and vendor data in required systems, collaborating with teammates to improve purchasing processes and customer service.

This role focuses on timely fulfillment, enabling strong vendor relationships, negotiating rates, and tracking shipments to minimize back-orders.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of purchasing experience or related field.
• High school diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Knowledge of purchasing and inventory best practices.
• Knowledge and experience with improving processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage priorities, workflow, and implementing actions.
• Proficient with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Systems literate – Microsoft Dynamics, SAP is preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and process all purchasing activities in support of operations, including but not limited to vendor management, inventory stockouts, development of usage tools, invoicing, returns, and audits.
• Process purchase orders per inventory needs, timely fulfillment, and purchasing schedule.
• Track and address any back-order issues, and all other manual reporting; audit as necessary.
• Establish and maintain professional communication with internal/external customers, and vendors.
• Manage vendors by establishing new relationships, negotiating rates, and identifying alternative vendor support options.
• Update and maintain accurate records in Solomon, including but not to: vendor costs, vendor source, lead times, and vendor codes.
• Collaboratively work with inter-departments and vendors to determine lead times, or any other measures that may impact purchases.
• Notify leadership team on escalated issues such as inventory coverage changes, vendor cost increases, or purchase order dates that may negatively impact the customer(s).
• Trace inbound/outbound shipments and on-time deliveries; follow up with vendors on past-due shipments.
• Participate in continuous improvement activity; including the development of new tools for usage review, and proposals for maximizing efficiency in reordering points and quantities.
• Route debit memos and product returns to correct department(s) and/or vendors.
• Performance of other duties as assigned by manager.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

MS Office proficiency

Vendor management

Inventory management

Analytical skills

Ability to lift 40 lbs

Negotiation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

SAP

Job description

Luxottica in Minneapolis is seeking an Assistant Buyer to ensure inventory needs are met and orders are submitted according to lead times and backorders. You will help maintain stock levels and vendor data in required systems, collaborating with teammates to improve purchasing processes and customer service.

This role focuses on timely fulfillment, enabling strong vendor relationships, negotiating rates, and tracking shipments to minimize back-orders.