Associate Buyer, Kitchen

Kroger; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Flexible scheduling

Job summary

Kroger Co. in Portland, OR is seeking a Category Manager to develop and attain budgeted sales, gross margin, and market share for a single category.

You will locate and select assortment for the enterprise and manage vendor relationships to maximize sales, margin, and minimize cost. Responsibilities include creating business and sales plans, maintaining ESP, reviewing performance by division, and partnering with planners on financial strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2+ years of combined assistant buyer and assistant planner experience or equivalent.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Single category and lower complexity than buyer in item difficulty, promo intensity, region, vendor difficulty, growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and communicate corporate strategy for new releases.
• Maintain awareness of sales trends and assess impact on business needs.
• Create business plan for the category.
• Create sales, display and ad plans.
• Maintain ESP.

Skills

2+ years experience as assistant buyer

Very detail-oriented

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Develop and attain budgeted sales, gross margin, and market share for a single category. Locate and select assortment for the enterprise and manage vendor relationships to maximize sales, margin and minimize cost. Demonstrate Kroger core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop and communicate corporate strategy for new releases
• Maintain an awareness of current sales trends and assesses impact on business needs
• Create business plan for the category
• Create sales plan, display plans and ad plans
• Maintain Division specific Enterprise Sales Planning (ESP)
• Review sales, profit and promotional performance by the division
• Source and select new products
• Implement corporate pricing strategy; maintaining competitiveness while maximizing sales and profit potential
• Manage vendor relationships for the enterprise, including negotiation vendor allowances, payment terms, in-stocks and orders as necessary
• Develop enterprise specific selling programs for category
• Partner with planner on financial planning, vendor financial plans and strategies
• Participate in floor planning and plan‑ogram process
• Maintain comprehensive awareness of industry trends, competitive landscape across the enterprise and regional needs
• Develop advertising campaigns; select merchandise to advertise
• Research and assist with resolutions for store/division inquiries
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor's Degree
• 2+ years of combined assistant buyer and assistant planner experience; or combination of relevant education and experience
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Single category and lower level of complexity than buyer in item difficulty, promo intensity, regionality, category innovation, vendor difficulty, sales and growth goals
• Highly motivated and self-directed
• Function in a fast paced-paced, retail office environment
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks and projects
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong attention to detail
• Familiarity with industry/technical terms and processes

Job Info

• Job Identification 249086
• Job Category Category Management/Merchandising
• Posting Date 11/04/2026, 07:16 PM
• Locations 3800 SE 22nd Ave, Portland, OR, 97202, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.

Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.

Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.