Associate Procurement Specialist

Job description

Established in 1986, N.A. Trading Company has steadily grown to become one of the premier Asian food importers/distributors in the Los Angeles area.

N.A. Trading Company imports products mainly from Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. With over a thousand different kinds of food and merchandise items under well-known labels such as FOCO, Chao­koh, Aroy-D, Pantainorasingh, and our very own Three Deer Brand. Our most popular items include jasmine rice, canned coconut juice, coconut milk, instant noodles, mung bean, Thai tea drinks, and frozen durian.

Role Summary:

This role needs to utilize category expertise and vendor specific knowledge to manage inventory levels for all assigned items, suppliers and/or categories while maintaining service level targets to our customers across multiple distribution centers. Responsible for delivering forecast accuracy and forecasting per defined goals by SKU and/or product family. Collaborate with logistics operations, category management, markets, and suppliers to understand Best Food Services optimized supply chain opportunities

Key Areas of Responsibilities Include but are not limited to:

• Deliver on KPI’s for desk specific goals such as: Service Level, Days-Inventory-On-Hand (DIOH), Excess and Obsolete Inventory (E&O), Spoilage and freight income.
• Proactively review projected out of stock report daily
• Create efficient purchase orders with our suppliers by analyze economic order quantities, forecasts, lead times, vendor set-up, safety stock etc.
• Communicate closely with our cross-functional partners to capture seasonal trends and events in the business as well as drive profitability with accurate costs.
• Partner appropriately with product/category management team to maintain supplier relationship and proper accountability.
• Evaluate inbound volume and purchase history to collaborate with warehouse operation on efficient receiving practices; Review or calculate the items cost and sign to confirm it.
• Confirm all purchase orders accurately using vendor confirmation as well verifying this cost using the loaded vendor price list.
• Clear any costing discrepancies between the received PO’s and vendor invoice.
• Assist Import Clerk to follow up FDA/USDA status.
• Work with vendors to reconcile any discrepancies to achieve PO cost accuracy % on the buyers KPI scorecard.
• Review all daily cost exception report and take appropriate action to ensure all costing data is accurate and up to date
• Coach, and be the go-to person for junior Product Specialist on day to day function.
• Other duties assigned by supervisor.
• Out-of-business hours support may be required.

Key Requirements:

• Minimum 1- 5 years of purchasing and/or related work in the procurement or logistics field, produce experience preferred. Prior purchasing and/or logistics environment experience working in a large fast paced foodservice strongly desired.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent analytical skills, demonstrate a keen attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, be able to communicate with vendors and cross-functional.
• Knowledge of freight concepts and vendor pricing preferred.
• Must be able to manage successful relationships with product and transportation providers/suppliers.
• MS Office proficiency including Word, Outlook, Excel required.
• Bilingual in Chinese/Mandarin and English is preferred