Japanese Bilingual Import Purchasing Agent

About us:

Established in 1926, Mutual Trading Co., Inc. was originally a small co-op organization for centralized purchasing of basic import foods to service the needs of the early Japanese immigrant society in Southern California. We've grown nearly 100 years old now, and command a premiere position among Japanese foodservice suppliers, as well as fill a key role as "Culinary Ambassador" promoting Japanese foods worldwide.

Since 2011, our affiliate, Yamasho Inc. takes pride in providing a variety of restaurant items ranging from non-food to dry and frozen food products to our restaurant customers in its current location in Elk Grove, IL. Today, the company is dedicated to meet and exceed the customers’ expectations and create a unique experience to our customers with the explosion of Japanese food and culture in America.

Benefits:

All paid Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance for employees and their dependents

Life Insurance and 401k Plan with company match

Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

Hours: M-F 9AM – 6PM, 1 hour Lunch Break, OT may apply

Pay Range: $25 - $28/h

Essential Job Functions:

Coordinate local purchasing for frozen and dry food related products, including vendor relationship development, quality assurance, price negotiations, transportation logistics, and product development

Coordinate with Los Angeles and New York purchasing departments for transportation and delivery of frozen and dry food products if necessary

Work closely with Import Coordinator for smooth and on-time shipment

Maintains records on the Company Microsoft Dynamics NAV system including inventory adjustment, price change, and container list

Process receipts and invoices for payment

Calculate costs and product pricing to determine profit margin

Ensure food products safely meets FDA and USDA regulation standards by maintaining HACCP and CAPA food safety plans

Communicates with trucking companies to ensure proper transfer of goods

Work with warehouse department to ensure correct quantity, satisfactory quality, and proper receiving of purchased goods

Frequently review inventory for discrepancies and work with the warehouse for resolutions

Ensure adequate volume of products and create purchase orders based on sales volume and inventory

Coordinate semiannual inventory count on designated day, possibly on a weekend

Attend Company events and functions outside of normal working hours

Other duties as required by department manager

Obligation to answer to all management as requested

Physical Requirements:

Ability to sit in an office setting for an extended period of time

Ability to type and use a computer for extended periods throughout the day

Ability to reach, bend, kneel, and lift up to 50 pounds occasionally

Working Conditions

Noise Level: Normal to loud while in the office

Other Requirements

Business level Japanese and English – Read/write/speak/listen

Maintain a positive attitude

Ability to work independently and as a team

Ability to adapt to frequent changes in assignments and workload

High School Diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s Degree in business preferred

2+ years of relevant experience; food industry experience preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

Intermediate mathematical knowledge – profit margin calculations, markups, discounts, combining/converting measurements, counting inventory, etc.

Problem-solving skills

Advanced Microsoft Office, such as Excel, proficiency

Communication and interpersonal skills

Exceptional organization and time management skills

Knowledge of Japanese foods and sakes preferred

Disclaimers

This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related duties as instructed or requested by the department manager or other management as needed, subject to reasonable accommodation and business needs. The information contained herein is subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, and no part of this document is to be construed as an express or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter the “at-will” employment status with the Company. Requirements are subject to accommodations with ADA, FEHA, and all other applicable federal and state laws. Please report any changes of essential job functions to the Human Resources Department.

Mutual Trading Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Full-Time