Senior Replenishment Buyer

L&R is one of the largest distributors and purchasers of cosmetics in the United States. We now distribute over 40,000 items (cosmetics, toys, school supplies, hosiery, hair accessories, OTC, HBA, and more) through 3 regional warehouse locations in Arkansas, New Jersey, and Nevada.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB

The Senior Replenishment Buyer plays a crucial role in leading the team in delivering optimal service and inventory levels, ensuring product availability, and contributing to the overall success of our business operations. In addition, this person will have responsibility for specific categories on a daily basis. The role will require the person to have a strong analytical mindset, extensive technical experience with leading time phased demand planning systems, and a deep understanding of supply chain strategies. Top candidates will have replenishment and planning experience in seasonal and/or general merchandise categories within leading retail or distribution companies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Work closely with Director of Demand Planning to lead and deliver effective forecasting and purchasing operations in conjunction with Sales and DC operations for all active products within the L&R assortment, considering seasonal trends, promotions, and market insights. The role will include assignment of specific categories in general merchandise areas such as pet, toys, school / home office and kitchen/home essentials, as well as those assigned to their direct reports.

· Lead direct reports in day to day oversight of purchasing activities, coaching & teamwork, skill development and professional acumen.

· Lead regular supplier performance meetings relative to OTIF and other key metrics that tie to business objectives.

· Monitor inventory levels and implement replenishment strategies to prevent stockouts and overstock situations, optimizing inventory turnover and minimizing carrying costs for assigned areas as well as providing coaching/guidance and support for replenishment buyers to drive optimal performance in forecasting and replenishment in other areas of the company’s product portfolio.

· Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and product lifecycles to anticipate demand fluctuations and adjust replenishment plans accordingly.

· Generate purchase orders, communicate to suppliers and/or internal departments, review order acknowledgments and perform purchase order maintenance, confirming accuracy and alignment with demand forecasts and inventory needs.

· Request information from suppliers regarding order status, changes, or product availability.

· Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, as necessary.

· Review and evaluate late purchase orders and adjust lead time when necessary.

· Coordinate with Operations/Warehouse teams to ensure timely and efficient receipt and distribution of products, minimizing lead times and order-to-delivery cycles.

· Identify opportunities to optimize procurement processes, streamline workflows, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

· Accountable for maintaining Fill Rate levels in all assigned Suppliers lines as establish via Scorecard.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Sales, Category Management, and Finance teams to align on business goals and strategies.

· Prepare and present regular reports to management detailing inventory levels, supplier performance, and replenishment strategies' effectiveness.

· Track the status of Project Management Tool (Asana) requests.

· Monitor in-house inventory levels and movement by DC daily; execute inventory balancing transfers while coordinating with Operations, as needed.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

· Minimum of 5 years of recent experience in replenishment buying, demand planning and managerial leadership for a leading retailer or distributor

· Experience working at a retail or distribution company with a focus on any of the following categories: pet, toys, home office, kitchen / home essentials or general merchandise.

· Ability to work in a fast-paced, high growth environment.

· Demonstrated expertise/technical acumen in time phased demand planning working with a leading system with a preference for experience with Kinaxis.

· Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

· Proficiency in using inventory management software and Microsoft Excel.

· Excellent negotiation and communication skills.

· Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

· Knowledge of demand forecasting and procurement best practices.

· Familiarity with quality control and compliance standards.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

· Required: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.

· Preferred: Lean / Six Sigma training (Yellow/Green belt) preferred

· Preferred: Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), and Project Management Professional (PMP).

WORK SCHEDULE/HOURS

Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM EST, with variation based on business demands

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brooklyn, NY 11232