Merchandising/Purchasing Associate

Beacon Hill Staffing Group, LLC; Matthews (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Beacon Hill Staffing Group, LLC is seeking a detail-oriented Merchandising/Buying Associate to support inventory replenishment and purchasing across a large-scale distribution operation. This role focuses on maintaining optimal inventory levels, ensuring product availability, and supporting in-stock targets.

You will collaborate with category managers, vendors, and logistics teams to balance inventory turns with expiration guidelines, analyze demand data, and manage transitions during assortment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in purchasing, inventory management, replenishment, supply chain, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Responsibilities

• Monitor inventory levels and purchase assigned products to maintain appropriate stock levels.
• Analyze warehouse inventory, open purchase orders, and historical demand data to determine daily purchasing needs.
• Support inventory management for approximately 3,000 items and 150 vendor relationships.
• Maintain inventory turn targets while ensuring product availability and service levels.
• Review inventory exception reporting and address potential stock issues proactively.
• Track open purchase orders and follow up to ensure timely product delivery.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Merchandising/Buying Associate 6+ Month Contract Assignment | Onsite 5 Days Per Week

Our client is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Merchandising/Buying Associate to support inventory replenishment and purchasing activities across a large-scale distribution operation. This role is responsible for maintaining optimal inventory levels, ensuring product availability, and supporting store in-stock targets while balancing inventory turns and expiration guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Replenishment & Purchasing

• Monitor inventory levels and purchase assigned products to maintain appropriate stock levels.
• Analyze warehouse inventory, open purchase orders, and historical demand data to determine daily purchasing needs.
• Support inventory management for approximately 3,000 items and 150 vendor relationships.
• Maintain inventory turn targets while ensuring product availability and service levels.
• Review inventory exception reporting and address potential stock issues proactively.
• Track open purchase orders and follow up to ensure timely product delivery.

Vendor & Cross-Functional Communication

• Communicate regularly with vendors regarding inventory strategies, product availability, out-of-stock situations, and new product launches.
• Partner with Category Managers to align on inventory strategies and product lifecycle management.
• Coordinate with logistics, warehouse teams, and internal stakeholders to support inventory objectives.
• Assist with developing exit strategies for aged or excess inventory.

Analysis & Problem Solving

• Perform root cause analysis on inventory shortages and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor inventory performance metrics and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Learn and understand product seasonality, demand trends, and replenishment challenges within assigned categories.
• Maintain item integrity related to substitutions and product transitions.

Product & Inventory Management

• Coordinate the successful launch, deletion, and transition of products during assortment changes and resets.
• Manage hold, damaged, expired, and excess inventory and coordinate vendor returns, pickups, or product donations as needed.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for assigned product categories and support cross-functional initiatives.

Qualifications

• RequiredBachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in purchasing, inventory management, replenishment, supply chain, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities.
• Understanding of inventory replenishment, purchasing processes, and supply chain principles.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Beacon Hill is an equal opportunity employer and individuals with disabilities and/or protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

California residents: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the LosAngeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Company Profile

Founded by industry leaders to set a new standard in search, career placement and flexible staffing, Beacon Hill delivers coordinated staffing solutions with unparalleled service, a commitment to project completion and success and a passion for innovation, creativity and continuous improvement. Our niche brands offer a complete suite of staffing services to emerging growth companies and the Fortune 500 across market sectors, career specialties/disciplines and industries. Over time, office locations, specialty practice areas and service offerings will be added to address ever changing constituent needs. Learn more about Beacon Hill and our specialty divisions, Beacon Hill Associates, Beacon Hill Financial, Beacon Hill HR, Beacon Hill Legal, Beacon Hill Life Sciences and Beacon Hill Technologies by visiting www.bhsg.com.

Benefits Information

Beacon Hill offers a robust benefit package including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, and federal and state leave programs as required by applicable agency regulations to those that meet eligibility.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• federal and state leave programs

Upon successfully being hired, details will be provided related to our benefit offerings.

Beacon Hill. Employing the Future (TM)