About the Opportunity
We are a well-established, multi-location cannabis retail company seeking an experienced Purchasing Director to lead our purchasing, inventory, and vendor management strategy. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for ensuring our stores have the right products at the right time while maximizing profitability, maintaining compliance, and building strong relationships with industry partners.
This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment, is highly analytical, and has a proven track record managing purchasing operations within the cannabis industry.
Position Summary
The Purchasing Director oversees all aspects of purchasing and inventory strategy across multiple retail locations. This individual will develop purchasing plans, negotiate with vendors, monitor inventory performance, analyze sales trends, and collaborate with Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Store Leadership to deliver an exceptional product assortment while meeting financial objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute purchasing strategies that align with company sales and profitability goals.
- Source, evaluate, and negotiate with licensed cannabis vendors and manufacturers.
- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships while securing competitive pricing, promotional support, and exclusive opportunities.
- Analyze sales trends, inventory levels, and customer purchasing behavior to optimize product assortment.
- Monitor inventory turns, aging inventory, sell-through rates, and margin performance.
- Partner with Marketing on product launches, promotions, and vendor-supported events.
- Ensure compliance with all state cannabis regulations and internal purchasing procedures.
- Collaborate with Operations to maintain appropriate inventory levels across all locations.
- Forecast inventory needs based on historical data, seasonality, and business trends.
- Lead purchasing and inventory planning meetings with executive leadership.
- Monitor vendor performance, product quality, and fulfillment accuracy.
- Develop purchasing policies, SOPs, and best practices.
- Manage purchasing budgets and contribute to financial planning.
- Utilize inventory management and POS systems to generate reporting and purchasing recommendations.
- Lead and develop purchasing team members while fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of purchasing or category management experience within the cannabis industry.
- Experience managing purchasing for multiple retail locations preferred.
- Strong understanding of cannabis products, brands, compliance requirements, and supply chain operations.
- Proven ability to negotiate contracts and build long-term vendor partnerships.
- Advanced analytical and forecasting skills.
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience working with retail POS and inventory management systems (Blaze experience is a plus).
- Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field preferred but not required with equivalent experience.
Preferred Experience
- Multi-unit cannabis retail purchasing
- Category management
- Demand forecasting
- Inventory optimization
- Margin and profitability analysis
- Vendor negotiations
- Compliance and METRC familiarity
What We're Looking For
We're seeking a strategic thinker who can balance data-driven purchasing decisions with an understanding of consumer trends and retail operations. The ideal candidate is collaborative, detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about building strong vendor relationships while driving business growth.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Health, dental, and vision benefits
- Paid Time Off
- Employee discounts
- Professional development opportunities
- Opportunity to help shape the purchasing strategy for a growing multi-store cannabis retailer
Pay: $76,470.55 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
