Produce Buyer

Kids for the Future; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with company 0%

Job summary

Kids for the Future is seeking an experienced Produce Buyer in Kent, WA to own fresh produce and perishable categories. You will develop sourcing strategies, build regional grower relationships, and drive profitability while delivering an exceptional produce assortment to home delivery customers.

This high-impact role sits at the intersection of agriculture, operations, and customer experience, with a 10% travel expectation and a 4-year degree requirement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of retail or wholesale produce buying experience.
• Knowledge of fresh produce availability, seasonality, and quality standards.
• Knowledge of sustainable, organic agriculture and Pacific Northwest regional growing regions.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience with ERP systems; NetSuite is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills with Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Able to work across office, ecommerce, warehouse and cold-storage environments.
• Background check required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute produce sourcing and purchasing strategies for seasonal transitions and availability.
• Own category performance including GM, in-stock, spoilage, and margin.
• Research, evaluate, and negotiate with produce vendors and regional growers.
• Analyze pricing trends and monitor department budget for cost savings.
• Oversee inventory levels and manage purchase orders for perishable goods.
• Conduct daily cooler walkthroughs for freshness and quality.
• Negotiate vendor promotions and advertising support.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations for fresh produce.
• Improve procurement and receiving processes to reduce spoilage and increase efficiency.
• Collaborate with Category Director to execute overall produce category vision.

Skills

Produce purchasing

Excel

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, agriculture, marketing, or related field

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

• Location 26401 79th Avenue South,Kent, WA, 98032,United States
• Base Pay $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Staff
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Travel 10%
• Manage Others No

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Produce Buyer to take full ownership of our fresh produce and perishable categories. You'll develop sourcing strategies, build relationships with regional growers and vendors, and drive profitability while delivering an exceptional produce assortment to our home delivery customers. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of agriculture, operations, and customer experience.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute produce sourcing and purchasing strategies to manage seasonal transitions, reduce costs, and ensure consistent product availability
• Own category performance - including gross margin, in-stock levels, and spoilage/shrink, and use data to continuously improve assortment and seasonal programming
• Research, evaluate, and negotiate with produce vendors and Pacific Northwest regional/local growers; build and maintain strong, long-term relationships
• Analyze pricing trends, monitor department budget, and identify cost-saving opportunities given seasonal and weather-driven market volatility
• Oversee produce inventory levels given short shelf life; manage purchase orders and ensure quality and timely delivery of perishable goods
• Perform daily walkthroughs of coolers and produce storage areas, with hands‑on product inspection for freshness and quality
• Negotiate and track vendor promotion allowances and advertising support
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations specific to fresh produce handling
• Evaluate and improve procurement and receiving processes to reduce spoilage and increase efficiency
• Partner with the Category Director to execute overall produce category vision - assortment, pricing, merchandising, promotions, and margin
• Share produce expertise with teammates and convey enthusiasm for high‑quality fresh food

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of retail or wholesale produce buying experience; food retail background with produce technical knowledge strongly preferred
• In-depth knowledge of fresh produce availability, seasonality, and quality standards
• Knowledge of sustainable, organic agriculture and Pacific Northwest regional growing regions strongly desired
• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, agriculture, marketing, or related field — or equivalent experience
• Proven experience with purchasing ERP systems; NetSuite experience a plus
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail; proficient in Microsoft Excel
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable working across office, ecommerce, warehouse, and cold-storage environments
• Offer contingent on a successful background check

Working Conditions

• Full-time, Monday-Friday with flexibility to support the team as business needs evolve
• Daily time spent in a refrigerated warehouse and produce cooler environment
• Occasional travel for grower/vendor visits or industry events within WA and Portland, OR markets, with seasonal travel to growing regions as needed

Summary

Let’s get to the Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match