Kim O. Email and Phone Number

Responsible for sourcing products for private brands in all business units, optimizing cost of goods and supply chain costs. Successfully collaborates with sales and marketing teams to develop targets and priorities so to drive launch results that support goals and ensures global competitiveness.Develops strong global relationships with business partners and internal divisions. US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Evaluates and assesses product position against competitors to ensure cost, quality, value and global supply chain efficiencies.Negotiates with suppliers competitive cost structure and comprehensive marketing plan.Develops and executes strategies for sourcing and launching new products within designated timeframes.Supports processes to ensure compliance with all quality and regulatory requirements and manages risks associated with vendor performance, capacity and quality record to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.Manages team to optimize productivity and allocate resources to high value projects.Successful at achieving gross margin & cost reduction targets.Lead the team that developed a standardized project management process and platform.Created and implemented current RFP/RFQ process.Managed the development and implemented the Global Packaging Standard for Private Brands.

Responsible for managing and mentoring a team of buyers and assistant buyers to ensure daily, weekly, and monthly goals are achieved to support sales targets and meet inventory plan.Managed team work flow that included order placement, item maintenance, forecasting accuracy, new item set up, expediting, sku optimization, supplier negotiations, and overstock.Analyzed supplier performance and identified areas of opportunity so to meet key scorecard metrics such as fill rate, lead time, order completeness, and overstock reduction.Maximized line profitability by negotiating special buys and ensuring forward buys were placed to meet annual rebate goals and in advance of any future price increases.Performed buyer evaluations and annual performance reviews.

Managed order fulfillment for specific supplier offerings in U.S. market that supported Dental, Medical, and Veterinary markets.Ensured accuracy of supplier set up, forecasting, lead times, fill rate and inventory levels.Developed strong supplier relationships to expedite product due to unexpected increases in demand, large picks, and backorders so to minimize the impact to the customer.Monitored new item performance and negotiated overstock returns so to reduce risk.Negotiated inner margin buys and ensured supplier rebate programs were met.Provided guidance and development opportunities for assistant buyer.

Assisted senior buyer and buyer by analyzing data and performing expediting functions.Actioned reporting processess that identified products with critically low inventory, late orders, and daily backorder and cross-ship reports.