If you are looking to join a dynamic and growing team, Islands West Produce has the right job for you! With a long history in Victoria, we pride ourselves on providing excellent client service and being passionate about our Islands West product offerings.

The Retail Sales and Purchasing Manager performs a wide variety of duties to direct, control and coordinate the overall operations of the Buying Department. Daily management and ongoing training provided to staff to ensure the efficient operation of the department that contributes to the accuracy and fulfillment of customer orders.

Responsibilities include management of all functions of buying, developing and maintaining excellent customer service with new and existing accounts, and overseeing a basket of produce commodities, including analyzing buying patterns, planning forward purchases, sourcing supply, and negotiating pricing, terms, and other business-related issues.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages and supports buyers to maintain competitiveness and ensure that buying decisions made are in the best interest of the company through management of quality and appropriate stock levels.
• Businesses Development: Sourcing and securing new retail accounts and managing existing accounts/relationships to achieve profitable sales growth.
• Support and contribute to financial performance, including revenue and expense budgets contributing to gross margin budgets. Contributions include the ongoing management of waste (as it relates to quality and timely buying).
• Responsible for sales growth through coordinating and scheduling the timely buying of product according to customer requirements.
• Support and participate in inventory counts to ensure accuracy. Identify and report on any areas of concern that may impact company financials and provide solutions where appropriate.
• Watches fluctuations in the markets to ensure the best time to purchase. Provides updates on pricing and market conditions.
• Negotiating price and claims concessions to ensure their basket of produce commodities is competitive in the marketplace, providing optimal margins for the company.
• Adjust inventory depending on market trends, good buys, and specials (ads).
• Communicating to the Sales Team current market intel (pricing, supply, quality, trends…) gathered from existing customers and business development activities.
• Develop and maintain an effective department, of 2-5 employees, through ongoing training.
• Performs team meetings with employees to review objectives, service levels, quality concerns, productivity, and allocation of duties.
• Guide and provide leadership to the team to ensure daily, weekly, and monthly goals are achieved.
• Work directly with the President on improving operations and creating efficient workflows.
• Attends, as directed, all training meetings and/or professional development sessions.
• Operate or perform other duties as directed by the President.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Min 3 years’ previous leadership experience is required.
• Food Safe Level 1 (Islands West to Provide).
• Hepatitis A Vaccination (Islands West to Provide).
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written (English).
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office products, mainly excel.
• Basic proficiency with Warehouse Management System (SBT)
• Demonstrated ability to manage, direct and train 2-5 staff