Procurement & Operations Associate

Saba Grocers

Oakland (CA)

Hybrid

USD 36,506 - 43,050

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

26 days of PTO annually

401(k) match plan

Job summary

Saba Grocers is seeking a Procurement & Operations Associate to manage produce sourcing and order operations in Oakland, CA. This role involves building farmer relationships, tracking orders, and ensuring customer satisfaction, all while supporting food access in underserved communities.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and strong organizational and communication skills. The position offers a hybrid work schedule and competitive compensation ranging from $26.50 to $31.25 per hour, along with benefits including healthcare and PTO.

Qualifications

Entry-level candidates are welcome.
Strong organizational skills required.
Comfort with numbers and analysis needed.

Responsibilities

Cultivate relationships with farmers.
Gather weekly pricing from farmers.
Coordinate order logistics.
Manage orders from confirmation to delivery.
Ensure smooth billing cycle.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Curiosity about food and agriculture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Spreadsheets

ERP or CRM systems

Tableau or similar

Job description

Saba Grocers is a non-profit organization with a mission to address food access and health disparities by partnering with local corner stores in underserved areas.

We're hiring a Procurement & Operations Associate to own our produce sourcing and order operations end-to-end, from building relationships with farmers and pulling weekly pricing, to scheduling logistics, tracking orders through delivery, pushing them through billing, and keeping customers in the loop along the way.

About Saba Grocers Initiative

Saba Grocers Initiative joins forces with corner store owners to make fresh fruits and vegetables accessible and affordable to all of Oakland. We make it easy for corner stores to buy produce from marginalized & BIPOC farmers, supporting thriving small businesses while feeding the neighborhoods of Oakland. Much of Oakland lives in “food deserts” – where a traditional grocery store is a mile away or more and healthy food can’t be reached. By putting produce into corner stores, we’re able to get good food to all of Oakland. A healthy community where everyone has access to quality, nutritious, healthy food can be achieved through a synergistic relationship between stores and the communities they serve. Corner stores/community markets can serve as an important conduit for communities to get healthy products, provide information that promotes health and well-being, and for facilitating community empowerment.

Description

Procurement & Operations Associate

About the Role

This role is designed to grow with you. You'll start by learning the business hands-on and, over time, develop into our team's subject matter experts on the produce market, who's growing what, what's in season, where prices are heading, and what we should be buying and when.

Entry-level candidates are welcome. We'll train the right person who's curious, organized, and ready to grow into deep market expertise.

Why Join Us

Mission-driven work — your work directly supports food access in underserved communities.
Develop deep expertise — grow into the team's go-to authority on produce sourcing, pricing, and seasonality.
Build lasting relationships with farmers, buyers, and retailers across the regional food system.
Hybrid schedule with a thoughtful mix of onsite and remote days.
Meaningful career growth within a rapidly expanding nonprofit enterprise.

What You\'ll Do

Vendor management. Cultivate and strengthen relationships across our farm network, and identify, vet, and onboard new growers to expand our supplier base.
Weekly pricing. Gather updated pricing from farmers each week and maintain accurate, current rate sheets that the sales team relies on.
Order logistics. Coordinate inbound and outbound logistics for every order, ensuring timing, quantities, and product specifications align.
Proactive order management. Oversee each order from confirmation through delivery, anticipating and resolving potential issues before they reach the customer, and keeping the sales team informed throughout.
Billing cycle. Move orders through the billing cycle efficiently, ensuring seamless handoff between operations and finance.
Site visits. Visit farms and other vendors regularly to strengthen relationships, evaluate quality, scout new products, and stay informed on conditions in the field.
Market analysis & pricing forecasts. Track produce market trends, form a clear view on where prices are heading, and apply those insights to guide buying decisions and customer pricing.
Seasonality & availability. Serve as the team's expert on seasonal product cycles and current availability, planning ahead so customers consistently receive what they need.
Customer experience. Deliver an exceptional customer experience through accurate operations, clear communication, and reliable execution.

What You\'ll Bring

Bachelor\'s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Agribusiness, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
Strong organizational skills, you can keep many moving orders straight without dropping any.
Comfort with numbers and analysis; you\'ll be tracking pricing trends and forming predictions.
Excellent written and verbal communication with farmers, customers, and the internal team.
Curiosity about food, agriculture, and the produce business; willingness to go deep and become an expert.
Hunger to develop deep expertise in the produce market and become the team\'s resident authority over time.
Reliable, detail-oriented, and proactive about follow-ups.
Comfortable with spreadsheets and business software in general; experience with ERP or CRM systems is a plus, and familiarity with Tableau or similar data visualization tools is a bonus.
Valid driver\'s license and willingness to travel locally for farm visits.

Entry-level candidates are welcome. We\'ll train the right person on the produce market, our systems, and our way of working.

Nice to Have

Background or interest in food, farming, supply chain, or local agriculture.
Prior experience in B2B sales, procurement, vendor relations, or supply chain support.

Reports to: Saba Food Hub COO

Location: Oakland, CA

Compensation: $26.50 – $31.25 per hour, plus bonus

Benefits: Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage for full-time employees (provided based on percentage of time employed); 26 days of PTO annually; 11 company holidays; 401(k) match plan (4% company contribution, 1% employee contribution required).

Work Schedule

Saba\'s office is open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This is a hybrid role with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote.

Training Period (first month):