Daily Table is looking for a Food Acquisitions Specialist who will be responsible for finding and managing new and existing suppliers who can provide unique buying opportunities and donations for our retail stores and commissary kitchen.
The Food Acquisitions Specialist is an exciting and high-impact position within the organization and the right candidate will have an entrepreneurial mindset and be driven by the “thrill of the hunt.” This position is primarily vendor-facing but will also work closely with retail and kitchen management teams. This is not a sit in the office and buy from a list job. It is a hunter-gatherer, shake the bushes, turn over every rock and do whatever it takes to bring home value for our customers opportunity.
Qualified candidates will have extensive food industry experience; preferred experience is in product purchasing for retail grocery operations. This role will require creative thinking, hustle, persistence and great interpersonal skills to find wholesome food that we can offer at great value to our customers.
Responsibilities
- Acquire more great value product, including discounted short-code and donations
- Help to develop and implement the strategy of donations and opportunistic purchasing
- Identify key areas of growth and opportunity for Daily Table’s product offering
- Develop new supplier relationships to further Daily Table’s mission and financial performance
- Oversee and manage supplier relationships
- Consistently bring in new, exciting products that align with Daily Table’s mission
- Track and evaluate performance of new vendors, products and programs
- Provide functional coordination to operational Procurement Teams, Kitchen and Retail
Skills & Experience
The ideal candidate will meet or exceed the following qualifications:
- A strong commitment to the mission of Daily Table
- At least five years of experience managing supply inventory and/or product purchases for food retail
- Understands the purchasing side of the business and can sell the mission of Daily Table to potential suppliers
- Extremely self-motivated; is always looking for the next opportunity and relationship
- Excellent interpersonal, networking and relationship-building skills
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written
- Exceptional negotiation skills
- Ability to work independently, as well as with a team
- Attention to detail as well as the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Ability to work varied hours/days as business dictates
- Must be able to type and have proficiency with MS Office including Word and Excel
- Able to perform the physical demands of normal office work, such as; standing, walking, kneeling, squatting, bending, reaching, and lifting up to 25lbs