Purchased Product Specialist

Pay Rate: $24 per hour

Mission-Driven Career Opportunity

One of the leading affordable housing nonprofits in the area, Habitat Charlotte Region partners with hundreds of families each year through affordable homeownership, home preservation and financial literacy training. As a Purchased Product Specialist, you’ll play an integral role in our vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live.

Why Join Habitat?

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Industry-leading healthcare, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent care)
• Work/life balance supported by generous PTO
• Career development and promotion opportunities
• Casual working environment
• Retirement planning a 403(b) with 3% organizational match

Position Purpose

The Purchased Product Specialist plays a vital role in supporting Habitat for Humanity's mission by managing product inventories, educating staff on product lines, and upholding merchandising standards across retail operations. This role is responsible for ensuring that purchased goods remain within the 15% threshold of retail gross sales to comply with Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) restrictions. The Specialist will also monitor product quality, optimize inventory, and partner with reputable vendors to secure cost-effective, high-quality merchandise.

Essential Functions

1. Product Inventory Management: Oversee the procurement of various product categories, including flooring, mattresses, rugs, and smaller items, ensuring a balanced and diverse inventory that meets customer demand.
2. Product Education: Provide training and resources to staff to ensure they are knowledgeable about product offerings, including key features, benefits, and usage, to improve customer service and sales performance.
3. Merchandising Standards: Maintain and enforce high merchandising standards across all retail locations, ensuring products are displayed safely and effectively to attract customers and maximize sales.
4. Vendor Partnerships: Collaborate with reputable vendors to secure the best pricing and product availability, ensuring long-term, cost-effective relationships that support organizational goals.
5. Seasonal and Impulse Buying: Assess seasonal demand and evaluate opportunities for discounted one-time purchases, maximizing profitability through strategic buying decisions for seasonal and impulse items.
6. New Product Sourcing: Identify and source new, rotating inventory based on product performance analytics, staying ahead of trends and customer preferences to keep the product lineup fresh and appealing.
7. Product Quality Management: Establish and maintain rigorous quality control processes to ensure all purchased products meet the organization's standards before reaching the sales floor.
8. Invoice and Inventory Tracking: Oversee the full procurement lifecycle from ordering to arrival, including invoice approvals, inventory creation, and tracking, ensuring seamless integration into the retail environment.
9. Product Performance Analytics: Monitor and analyze product performance data to make informed purchasing decisions that drive profitability and inventory efficiency.
10. Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with other internal departments, such as finance and operations, to coordinate bulk purchases that align with overall business strategies and financial objectives.
11. UBIT Compliance Monitoring: Regularly measure and monitor purchased goods to ensure they do not exceed 15% of retail gross sales, staying compliant with UBIT restrictions.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proven experience in procurement, inventory management, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of merchandising standards and product quality management.
• Ability to analyze data and make informed decisions based on product performance analytics.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills for vendor partnerships.
• Experience with invoice processing and inventory tracking systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Keen attention to detail with a focus on product quality and safety.
• Valid driver’s license required

Work Environment

This position requires approximately 50-75% computer-based work in an office environment with occasional travel to vendor locations and retail sites as needed.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for extended periods while performing computer-based tasks.

Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace. A pre-employment drug screen and background check is required.

Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region program funding often includes federal funding, and this role may support federally funded activities. People qualifying as Section 3 residents per Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C § 1701u) and its associated regulations (24 C.F.R. Part 75) are encouraged to apply. Information on Section 3 qualifications and certification material available upon request.