Remote Purchasing Assistant Jobs in Fall River, MA

Job Overview:
This role oversees vendor, item, cost, and data management activities for assigned accounts, ensuring data accuracy, completeness, profitability, and timely execution. This position is also responsible for training, mentoring, and providing guidance to Data Management Specialists while serving as a liaison between internal departments and external business partners.
This position coordinates special projects from initiation through completion, including planning workflows, assigning resources, monitoring progress, and providing status updates. The incumbent communicates changes impacting merchandising, sales, suppliers, and customers and ensures the successful setup and maintenance of vendor, item, costing, and data synchronization processes.
This role also supports continuous improvement efforts by identifying process enhancements, developing tools and reporting metrics, and implementing solutions that improve team efficiency and effectiveness.
What does it mean to be part of the Data Management & Governance team?
When you shop for groceries, do you often wonder how a barcode corresponds with an item you're purchasing? A role on the data management and governance team involves working with data related to UPC codes, to verify that products purchased from vendors are aligned in our systems. Ensuring correct data makes our customers stronger and allows UNFI to deliver better together.
Job Responsibilities:
• Coordinate costing, vendor, item management, and data synchronization activities for assigned accounts while providing guidance and support to Data Management Specialists.
• Train, mentor, and assist team members with daily operational questions and issue resolution.
• Manage and support special projects, ensuring milestones and deadlines are achieved.
• Plan workflow assignments and provide regular updates on team workload and project status.
• Develop, maintain, and distribute dashboards and reports to communicate project progress, team metrics, and operational performance.
• Complete system setup activities, including vendor, item, and costing file configuration for new accounts.
• Perform file comparisons and data validation processes to ensure alignment between UNFI and customer systems.
• Validate item data and vendor information, ensuring accuracy and compliance with established processes and standards.
• Research, analyze, and resolve item, vendor, costing, and data-related issues; escalate concerns as appropriate.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for vendors, brokers, merchandising, procurement, and other stakeholders regarding data management inquiries and issues.
• Communicate cost, vendor, and item changes to sales, merchandising, and other internal teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments to address operational issues, requests, and business needs.
• Assist with department training initiatives, process documentation, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) updates.
• Provide performance-related feedback and input to leadership for specialist performance and merit review discussions.
• Respond to inquiries from customers, internal departments, and external auditors, providing requested documentation and support in a timely manner.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and develop tools, reporting, and processes that enhance operational efficiency and team performance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Education/ Certifications:
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience
Experience:
• 5 years related experience
• System Implementation experience preferred
Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities
• Advance Knowledge of Microsoft Access, Excel along with other Microsoft Office products
• Intermediate knowledge of SharePoint and PowerPoint
• Strong understanding of costing structures, vendor requirements, and item data elements
• Understanding of business systems including UCS Mainframe and eNew Item helpful but not required.
• Customer Service Oriented
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.
Work Environment:
Remote Role:
• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
Travel (minor):
• This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.
Physical Environment/Demands:
Office Roles:
• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.
About UNFI: We are North America's premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more: Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI
Benefits: Competitive 401k, Competitive PTO plan, Remote, Health benefits - first of the month following 30 days of employment, mentorship program/developmental opportunities.
UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Compensation:
UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
Benefits:
For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.
Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
UNFI's compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company's sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act .