Buyer, Organic Produce

~ Organically Grown Company (OGC), the Northwest's Premier distributor of organic produce, has warehouses in Portland and Eugene, Oregon and Kent, Washington. ~

OGC serves over 200 natural and fine foods stores and restaurants located throughout western Oregon and Washington, as well as retail and wholesale accounts in other western states and Canada. Check out our website to read about our commitment to sustainable business practices. 

Position Overview 

OGC is is seeking a full-time Buyer to be based out of its Portland
or Eugene location. This position is primarily responsible for purchasing
produce for sales to Organically Grown Company accounts. 

Responsibilities 

• Maintain
  regular contact with suppliers to obtain information about product
  availability, place orders, establish prices and resolve quality issues; where
  desired, actively and strategically coordinate
  and manage supply as a grower agent or as a party to a formal agreement.

• Provide
  sales staff with updates on product availability, product delivery, peak and
  finish, quality and price; Initiate weekly meetings to review availability and
  inventory maintenance issues; Maintain and distribute weekly ad sheet;

• Interact
  with Sales Account Representatives and customers to obtain information on
  product needs; work directly with customers as needed to place orders, track
  availability, and address quality issues.

• Maintain
  effective communication with all parties via phone and fax on an as-needed
  basis, including after business hours; Attend regular PIM Department
  meetings

• Perform other projects and related duties as
  assigned. 

Qualifications 

• Position
  typically requires a High School diploma and undergraduate degree plus a
  minimum of 3-5 years of overall equivalent education and experience. 
• An experienced buyer in the perishable
  produce industry, with a proven successful track record of crop planning,
  negotiating, contracting and buying preferred. 
• Solid knowledge of organic produce varieties, organic growing practices,
  suppliers and seasonable availability.
• Expert knowledge of purchasing and
  negotiation methods.
• Previous experience working for an organization with
  aspirational sustainability goals desired.
• Knowledge of, and interest in,
  production agriculture and farming-preferably organics. 
• Previous work experience in a perishable products industry
  preferred. 
• Experience with workplace
  longevity, working a required schedule, showing up consistently and on
  time. 
• Must have the ability to learn and
  use a variety of computer software programs.   
• Basic math skills required. 

Ideal
candidates will have demonstrated the following competencies: 

• Approachable
• Business Acumen
• Composure
• Informing
• Interpersonal
  Savvy
• Negotiating
• Organizational
  Agility
• Peer
  Relationships
• Customer
  Focus
• Drive
  for Results
• Effective
  Time Manager
• High
  Integrity and Trustworthy
• Timely/Quality
  Decision Making
• Priority
  Setting
• Action
  and Results Oriented
• Problem
  Solver
• Good
  Time Manager
• Organizing
• Sizing
  Up People
• Excellent
  Communicator—Verbal and Written
• Functional/Technical
  Skills to include basic computer skills 

Compensation: Pay range is $62,527.00-$93,790.00 per
year. 

Benefits
include: 

• Medical 
• Prescription
• Dental 
• Vision
• Alternative Care
• Flex Spending
• Life Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• EAP 
• 401K
• Generous PTO Plan
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Organically Grown Company is employee &
  grower owned) 

To Apply 

Please use the email address below to send your
resume along with a cover letter that includes your response to the questions
listed below:  

• What experience
  do you have that qualifies you for this position with OGC?
• What is the
  most challenging work you have performed in your employment history?  
• Why might you
  want to work for OGC?
• What is your
  current/target compensation level? 

Thank you for your interest! 

~ Organically Grown Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~