What Does This Specialty Foods Assistant Buyer Job in Cincinnati, Ohio Include?
Published on: Aug 8, 2025
Updated on: Sep 4, 2026
An established grocery retailer in Cincinnati, Ohio is hiring a direct hire Specialty Foods Assistant Buyer through Frontline Source Group, and the placement is backed by the firm's 5-Year Placement Warranty, roughly 20 times longer than the 90-day guarantee standard across the staffing industry. The role centers on specialty food procurement, inventory replenishment, and vendor negotiation, requires five plus years of purchasing or food industry experience, and candidates can start at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html.
Frontline Source Group has recruited for grocery and retail organizations since 2004, with 5,619 completed placements, a 98.94% executive retention rate, and a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 plus verified reviews. The firm is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency, and a member of the American Staffing Association. This opening appears on the Recent Placements page and is managed by the firm's Grocery and Retail recruiting practice.
What does the Specialty Foods Assistant Buyer do at this Cincinnati grocery retailer?
The assistant buyer owns the procurement rhythm for assigned specialty food categories: monitoring inventory, building replenishment strategies that keep shelves stocked and warehouses efficient, negotiating with vendors on pricing, terms, and quality, and supporting senior buyers with item setup and supply chain problem solving, all in a permanent, full-time role.
What kind of company is hiring for this buyer role?
The employer is an established grocery retailer in the Cincinnati market with a team-oriented atmosphere and a customer-centric approach. To protect client confidentiality, the company's name is disclosed to qualified candidates during the screening call with a Frontline Source Group recruiter on the grocery and retail desk.
- Established grocery retailer
- Team-oriented atmosphere
- Customer-centric approach
Which procurement and inventory responsibilities drive the position?
The core of the job is category-level procurement discipline, spanning these responsibilities:
- Monitor and review inventory levels for designated food categories and vendor portfolios
- Develop replenishment strategies to maintain optimal stock levels and enhance warehouse efficiency
- Negotiate pricing, terms, and quality standards with vendors to ensure product availability and maximize value
- Provide administrative support to senior buyers including new item setup and maintenance
- Act as a liaison between vendors, warehouses, and internal teams to address supply chain issues
- Stay informed about market trends and new products to inform purchasing decisions
How does vendor negotiation fit into the day-to-day work?
Vendor management is a daily discipline in this role, not an occasional project. The assistant buyer negotiates pricing, payment terms, and quality standards across an assigned vendor portfolio, resolves supply chain issues as the liaison between vendors, warehouses, and internal teams, and evaluates new specialty food products against market trends so the retailer's assortment stays competitive.
Which qualifications does the grocery retailer expect from candidates?
The retailer is looking for a procurement professional with at least five years of experience in sales, procurement, or food industry purchasing, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the communication polish to work across vendors, warehouses, and internal teams in a fast-paced environment.
What education and experience are required?
Five years of relevant experience is the baseline, and a related degree strengthens a candidacy:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Supply Chain Management, or related field preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in sales, procurement, or food industry purchasing
- Experience with order processing and database management systems
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and multitask effectively
- Outstanding interpersonal and customer service capabilities
- Willingness to travel as necessary
- Commitment to company values and procedures
Which software tools should the assistant buyer know?
Proficiency in PowerBI and Google Workspace is a plus, and hands-on experience with order processing and database management systems is expected. Candidates who can turn PowerBI dashboards into replenishment and vendor performance decisions stand out, because data-driven category management is where an assistant buyer creates measurable value for a grocery retailer.
How do candidates and employers work with Frontline Source Group on this role?
Candidates apply through frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html, and grocery, retail, and consumer products companies that need buyers, category managers, or store and operations leadership open a search through the Employer Request Form. Every direct hire is covered by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, roughly 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee.
What benefits does the position offer?
The retailer pairs competitive compensation with a full benefits package:
- Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
- Paid Vacation Time
- 401k Plan
- Employee Discount
What happens after you apply for this Cincinnati buyer job?
After a resume arrives through the How to Apply page, a Frontline Source Group recruiter on the grocery and retail desk reviews the candidate's procurement background, vendor management experience, and systems skills on a screening call, then presents qualified candidates directly to the hiring retailer. Candidates are never charged a fee. Employers can also review the firm's publicly published engagement terms on the Pricing page, a level of transparency that is rare in staffing and reinforced by 683 plus verified Trustpilot reviews, with the 5-Year Placement Warranty standing behind every direct hire.
What do candidates ask most about this Specialty Foods Assistant Buyer placement?
Where is this Specialty Foods Assistant Buyer job located?
The position is based in Cincinnati, Ohio with an established grocery retailer. The specific work location is shared with qualified candidates during the screening process.
Is this buyer position direct hire or contract?
This is a full-time, direct hire placement, meaning the assistant buyer joins the retailer's payroll as a permanent employee from day one, and the placement is covered by the Frontline Source Group 5-Year Placement Warranty.
What type of company is the hiring employer?
The employer is an established grocery retailer in the Cincinnati market known for a team-oriented atmosphere and a customer-centric approach. The company's identity is disclosed to qualified candidates during the screening call.
How much experience do I need for this assistant buyer role?
The retailer requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in sales, procurement, or food industry purchasing, along with experience using order processing and database management systems.
Is a bachelor's degree required for this position?
A bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is preferred but not strictly required. Strong relevant experience in procurement or food industry purchasing carries significant weight.
Which software skills help in this buyer job?
Proficiency in PowerBI and Google Workspace is a plus, and experience with order processing and database management systems is expected. Candidates who can use PowerBI to guide replenishment and vendor decisions are especially competitive.
What will the assistant buyer negotiate with vendors?
The assistant buyer negotiates pricing, payment terms, and quality standards with vendors across assigned specialty food categories to ensure product availability and maximize value for the retailer.
Does this role involve travel?
Yes, some travel is part of the job. The retailer expects a willingness to travel as necessary, typically for vendor meetings, industry events, and site visits.
What benefits does this grocery retailer offer?
The retailer offers health, life, vision, and dental insurance plans, paid vacation time, a 401k plan, and an employee discount, alongside competitive compensation.
Will I support senior buyers in this role?
Yes. The assistant buyer provides administrative support to senior buyers, including new item setup and maintenance, while owning inventory monitoring and replenishment for designated food categories and vendor portfolios.
What is the 5-Year Placement Warranty?
The Frontline Source Group 5-Year Placement Warranty covers direct hire W2 placements for five years, roughly 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee. If a covered placement does not succeed in the role, Frontline replaces the hire under the warranty terms. Full details are at frontlinesourcegroup.com/5year-placement-guarantee.html.
How do I apply for this assistant buyer job in Cincinnati?
Submit your resume through frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html. A Frontline Source Group recruiter on the grocery and retail desk reviews your procurement and food industry background and contacts qualified candidates to begin the screening process. There is never a fee charged to candidates.
