Buyer - Grocery

Grocery Outlet; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

401(k) Profit Sharing

Annual Bonus Program

Medical, Dental, Vision & More!

Job summary

Grocery Outlet Inc. is seeking a seasoned Grocery Buyer to lead category management, assortment planning, seasonal planning, RFPs, and buying and replenishment of everyday items.

You will manage all aspects of your categories generating around $80M annually, optimizing assortment and driving value for customers. Reporting to the Director of Purchasing, you will build relationships with suppliers, negotiate costs, and collaborate with Inventory Planning, Operations, Marketing, and IT to align on

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience buying or selling consumer products.
• Experience in a discount retail environment and/or opportunistic product assortment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with calculated risk-taking.
• Strong negotiation skills with bold offers.
• Collaborative, people-oriented with relationship-building.
• Thrive in fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Trend-spotting with hot-selling products.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Driven to deliver results and drive growth/innovation.

Responsibilities

• Analyze internal and syndicated data to identify assortment opportunities and emerging trends.
• Define retail pricing to optimize sales, inventory turns, and margins.
• Negotiate costs to enhance customer value perception.
• Lead vendor negotiations and champion innovative solutions.
• Manage DSD Order Guides in Power HQ with pricing and UPC data accuracy.
• Collaborate with Inventory Planning to grow sales while minimizing losses.
• Strengthen relationships with current suppliers and prioritize Open-to-Buy opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional alignment with Operations, Store Operations, Marketing, and IT.
• Set and execute short- and long-term plans aligned with team strategies and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Communicate the Grocery Outlet and Independent Operator model to vendors.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Category management

Data analysis

Strategic thinking

Job description

About the Team: Our Purchasing teams mission is to provide bargain-minded customers with the deepest discounts on quality and branded products. In many ways our team is the heart of the organization- building and maintaining vendor relationships and providing solutions for our supplier partners and independent operators. Our buyers are empowered with speed, flexibility, and freedom while their passion and creativity embody the art of closeout buying. Successful members of our team are motivated to exceed annual comp sales, thrive in a collaborative environment, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and be motivated by relationship building.

About the Role:

You will be a part of the Grocery team which is responsible for the category management decisions, assortment planning, seasonal planning, RFPs and the buying and replenishment of everyday items. As a Grocery Buyer, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of your assigned categories within the Department, generating +-$80M annually. Your primary role is to optimize the assortment through exceptional category management practices, including a rigorous regular item level review, supplier performance reviews & promotional planning while supporting our commitment of providing VALUE to our customers. This role reports to the Director - Purchasing.

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Responsibilities Include:

• Analyze internal and syndicated data to identify assortment opportunities and emerging trends.
• Define retail pricing strategies to optimize sales, inventory turns, and profit margins.
• Take calculated risks to drive excitement and engagement with customers.
• Negotiate the most competitive costs to enhance customer value perception.
• Recommend and champion innovative solutions during vendor negotiations.
• Manage DSD Order Guides in the Power HQ system, ensuring pricing and UPC data accuracy.
• Collaborate with the Inventory Planning team to identify opportunities that strategically grow sales while minimizing losses.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with current suppliers.
• Prioritize deals and opportunities based on Open-to-Buy (OTB) needs.
• Lead efforts to align and inspire cross-functional partners across Operations, Store Operations, Marketing, and IT—bringing together diverse perspectives to achieve shared goals.
• Set and execute short- and long-term plans aligned with team and departmental strategies.
• Adapt to shifting priorities and respond effectively to evolving business demands.
• Effectively communicate and position the unique Grocery Outlet and Independent Operator model to vendors.

About The Pay:

• Base Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000 Annually
• Annual Bonus Program
• Equity
• 401(k) Profit Sharing
• Medical, Dental, Vision & More!
• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills and may vary based on location.

About You:

• You have 10+ years of experience buying or selling consumer products
• Experience in a discount retail environment and/or working with an opportunistic product assortment is highly desirable.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for taking smart, calculated risks.
• Strong negotiation skills — confident presenting bold offers while driving mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Collaborative and people-oriented, with a natural ability to build strong relationships.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities and minimal direction.
• Sharp trend-spotting instincts and a passion for identifying hot-selling products.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and reliable follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Passionate, driven, and consistently engaged in delivering results.
• Demonstrated history of driving growth, improvement, or innovation in previous roles.

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