Purchasing Agent

The Company

Growers Supply Company Limited, supporting growers with agricultural products and services across the Okanagan Valley and surrounding districts for over 83 years is currently seeking a motivated and dedicated individual for a full-time permanent Purchasing Agent position.

We encourage visiting our website https://growerssupplybc.com to learn more about our well-established company and the breadth of services and supports we offer.

The Purchasing Agent role will join a Purchasing team and manage a strategic category of Services and products. Expectations include support, strategy, proven experience, and leadership in sourcing, procurement and logistics while maintaining expected quality. Our team is driven to build partnerships with customers, growers and members of the communities in the regions we serve. The purchasing team actively supports branch managers at the store level as well as corporate headquarters. This role reports to the purchasing manager and can be located in either Creston, Oliver, Penticton, Kelowna, or Vernon as we manage branches in each of these locations.

Job Summary

We are looking for an energetic and passionate purchaser who will be responsible for procurement strategies, sourcing new products, maintaining positive relationships with suppliers and joining a strategic purchasing team. A solid understanding and proven experience in managing inventory and forecasting is required. We are looking for innovators and people who truly want to contribute to shaping the future in Agriculture with a passion for supply chain and logistics.

Role Expectations

Sourcing:

• Developing and implementing purchasing strategies.
• Own the assigned portfolio budget and manage inventory cycles.
• Collaboration with Finance teams and other partners on cost management.
• Managing supplier relations and negotiating contracts, prices, timelines, and delivery terms.
• Ensuring that all procured items meet the required quality standards and specifications.
• Minimize product shorts by forecasting, planning, and working directly with our Sales Horticultural, Logistics and Operations teams.
• Source new products that drive margin growth and support sustainability, carbon management and deliver on organizational goals and objectives.
• Monitor performance against planned and measured milestones, KPI’s and supporting metrics.

Inventory Control:

• Collaborate with inventory control teams to manage inventory needs.
• Right goods at the right time, supporting a seasonal selling season.
• Supporting branches with quarterly physical counts and actively participate in annual inventory counts.

Additional Duties:

• Manage sourcing of specialty and essential brands.
• Support with value-add programs.
• Find sustainable and eco friendly sourcing options.

The Candidate

• Self-starter with the ability to learn and complete complex tasks independently.
• Ability to lead change and always looking for new ways to improve.
• Solid knowledge of inventory and supply chain management.
• Education in Supply Chain, Degree/Diploma in logistics, supply chain, analytics and relevant fields.
• Advanced Excel experience and knowledge.
• Proficient with other MS Office Products and ERP
• Strong communication skills.
• 5+ years procurement or supply chain experience.
• Education in Horticultural or Biochemistry is an asset.
• This position does qualify for a Hybrid working from home model for the right candidate.

The Perks

• Competitive Salary - based on experience and education - $60,000.00 t0 $80,000.00
• 3 weeks vacation to start
• Full Benefits Package (starting Day 1)
  • Medical/Dental
  • Life Insurance
  • Long Term Disability
• Group RRSP contributions (includes matched contributions by employer)
• Store discounts

Growers Supply Co. Ltd. thanks all applicants for their interest. Please note that only those under consideration for the position will be contacted.