Who We Are
At HFA, we’re proud to be Hawai‘i’s largest local supplier of perishable foods and logistics—serving grocers, retailers, and club chains across the islands. But we’re not just moving products—we’re building connections, nourishing communities, and growing something that matters.
Our team is the heart of our success. That’s why we invest deeply in our people—offering real opportunities for growth, leadership, and innovation. Whether you're starting your journey or taking the next step, we’re here to support you.
If you're looking for more than a job—if you want a career with purpose, people who care, and a place where you can grow—we’d love to meet you.
Grow with us. Thrive with us. Join the HFA ‘ohana.
Why Join Us
- Innovative Environment: Be part of a company that values creativity and innovation, constantly seeking new ways to improve our market position.
- Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive and team-oriented environment where your contributions are valued.
- Industry Leader: Join a reputable company with a strong presence in the Hawaii food distribution market, recognized for our quality and service excellence.
Why This Role Matters
The Buying Team plays a key role in helping keep Hawai‘i fed by ensuring our customers always have access to fresh food products. As a Buyer II, you’ll support the team in managing a fast-paced, high-volume category of everyday goods. You’ll assist with placing purchase orders, tracking deliveries, and maintaining inventory levels to make sure products are available when our customers need them most.
The Buyer II is responsible for sourcing and purchasing goods and services for the organization. Primary responsibilities include managing inventory, controlling costs, ensuring compliance, and communicating with internal stakeholders and external customers. Excellent analytical and communication skills, strong negotiation abilities, and a deep understanding of supply chain management is vital for this role.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Generate sales and order projections based on historical data, current trends, and upcoming events.
- Generate vendor orders for inventory from local and mainland vendors (via inventory software).
- Determine daily deliveries of perishable products to retail stores.
- Review statewide inventory levels, via computer inventory reports and warehouse counts, and research discrepancies.
- Communicate with operations on all islands.
- Prepare and issue purchase orders based on approved requisitions, ensuring accuracy and completeness of order details.
- Review upcoming promotions by customer chain and generate promo projections
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders, such as operations, distribution, account managers, and inventory teams, to determine procurement needs and specifications.
- Monitor and track purchase orders to ensure timely delivery and resolve any discrepancies or issues with suppliers.
- Maintain strong relationships with suppliers, managing ongoing supplier performance evaluations and conducting periodic supplier audits.
- Stay updated on relevant regulations and compliance requirements related to procurement activities.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
This position requires a minimum 3 years of progressive experience in purchasing, supply chain management, or materials management.
Behavioral Characteristics
- Demonstrates a high level of personal and team accountability; takes ownership of outcomes and follows through
- Exhibits stamina, grit, and resilience; stays focused and effective through sustained pressure and ambiguity
- Maintains composure under pressure; approaches challenges with a calm, solution-oriented mindset
- Communicates clearly and constructively, even in difficult or high-stakes situations
- Negotiates thoughtfully and strategically to achieve win-win outcomes
- Proactively identifies risks and opportunities and adjusts quickly as conditions change
- Seeks and is receptive to feedback and is quick to self-correct in service of team and company success
- Models professionalism, integrity, and respect in all internal and external interactions
Functional Ability
- Possesses knowledge of purchasing procedures and practices
- Applies strong working knowledge of supply chain principles to daily decision-making
- Identifies problems, brainstorm and analyze answers, and implement the best solutions
Mathematical Skills
- Highly organized with strong analytical skills; able to manage and interpret multiple data points simultaneously
- Apply basic algebra and arithmetic daily to analyze pricing, margins, forecasts, usage, and inventory levels
- Translate numerical data into clear, actionable purchasing decisions that balance cost, service levels, and risk
- Identify trends, variances, and exceptions in data and proactively adjusts buying strategies accordingly
- Comfortable working with spreadsheets, formulas, and reports to support decision-making and recommendations
- Uses quantitative reasoning to support negotiations, justify recommendations, and communicate trade-offs clearly
Computer Skills
- Comprehensive knowledge of MS Excel and MS Word
Physical Demands
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision.
About Us
- Starting Pay: $75,000/Year. Relevant skills and experience will be highly considered in actual wage.
- Free Healthcare for Team Members (Partial subsidy for family members)
- 401(k) Plan with % matching
- Work just one block from the new rail stop—with monthly bus and rail Holo Card reimbursements
- Paid every Friday
- Paid Time Off
- Flexible Spending Account
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Discounts (e.g., Gym membership, Cellular service, Legal Assistance plan)
HFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
