Kitchen & Bath Buyer

LMC is one of the nation's leading buying groups for independent building materials and lumber dealers. The Technology team partners closely with various LMC business teams to develop solutions that drive efficiency, automation, and data visibility. This role will provide LMC staff with the tools to make stronger decisions and focus on our customer needs, increasing value to our membership.

The Kitchen and Bath Buyer builds strong dealer and supplier relationships, delivers responsive service, and helps grow purchasing volume through program utilization. The role increases dealer participation by communicating supplier offerings, buy specials, training opportunities, company events, and new or existing Kitchen & Bath programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Kitchen & Bath dealers through proactive phone, email, virtual, and in-person communication; to understand dealer business needs and provide timely, high-quality service.
• Assist dealers with special orders and job orders, including sourcing through approved supplier programs, obtaining and reviewing quotations, confirming specifications, negotiating pricing and terms within established authority, placing or coordinating orders, expediting delivery, and resolving routine order issues.
• Ensure dealers understand applicable Kitchen & Bath programs, supplier terms, rebates, special pricing, delivery options, and billing requirements and support accurate billing through company programs when applicable.
• Promote supplier buy specials, new and existing programs, product launches, company events, designer training, and other educational opportunities to drive dealer participation, purchasing volume, and program utilization.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of assigned Kitchen & Bath product lines, supplier capabilities, program requirements, market conditions, trends, pricing, and product developments.
• Prospect for, evaluate, negotiate, implement, and maintain new and existing supplier purchasing programs that respond to dealer demand and unmet needs, including back-end rebates and front-end cash discounts, while providing a competitive combination of price, quality, service, and product availability.
• Analyze dealer purchase activity, program participation, and category performance; identify opportunities to increase share of dealer business and execute targeted outreach plans with management.
• Maintain productive supplier relationships and serve as a liaison among dealers, suppliers, accounting, and internal teams to address order, billing, claim, quality, delivery, and service issues; escalate complex matters appropriately.
• Maintain complete and accurate records in CRM, Purchasing Workbench, and other required systems for dealer contacts, quotations, orders, claims, program activity, and follow-up.
• Partner with management, suppliers, dealers, designers, and internal teams to plan and support designer training events, including topic development, scheduling, communications, promotional materials, presentations, and event follow-up.
• Create and deliver clear presentations and program communications for dealers, suppliers, and internal audiences using Canva, the Microsoft Office suite, and other approved tools.
• Collaborate with Regional Managers and other teams to communicate dealer needs, sales opportunities, program updates, and follow-up actions.
• Attend three required company events each year and travel for one to two dealer visits annually; participate in supplier factory tours when applicable. Additional travel may be required based on business needs.
• Work in the office four days per week, with one scheduled remote workday, subject to company policy and business needs.
• Keep the supervisor informed of purchasing, sales, event, and project activity; perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, merchandising, design, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two or more years of experience in a professional business environment working with customers, dealers, purchasing, sales support, or supplier programs; Kitchen & Bath industry experience is preferred.
• Strong customer service, relationship-building, negotiation, problem-solving, organizational, and follow-through skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain programs, billing requirements, products, and order details to varied audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple special orders, job orders, programs, events, and deadlines with accuracy and appropriate supervision.
• Ability to analyze dealer needs, purchasing activity, pricing, and industry trends and translate findings into practical sales and service actions.
• Proficiency with Canva, the Microsoft Office suite, CRM systems, Purchasing Workbench, and basic HTML; ability to learn additional company systems and reporting tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively with dealers, suppliers, designers, accounting, regional teams, and other internal partners.
• Ability to travel to three required company events annually, one to two dealer visits annually, supplier factory tours when applicable, and other locations as business needs require.
• Ability to work in the office four days per week with one scheduled remote day, subject to company policy and business needs.