Assistant Buyer

University Co-op • Austin, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Buyer is a non-exempt role reporting to the Principal Merchant and is accountable for supporting merchandising operations through accurate product setup, purchase order execution, vendor coordination, and inventory visibility. This role provides operational support across the merchandising organization, with primary focus on apparel, ensuring timely and accurate execution of product lifecycle activities that support category readiness and business performance. The Assistant Buyer partners closely with buyers, vendors, and cross-functional teams to maintain product and vendor data integrity, support inventory flow, coordinate samples and product assets, and proactively escalate issues impacting product availability, operational execution, or customer experience.

Requirements

• 1 year of experience in assistant buying, merchandising operations, allocation, retail management, or related internship experience.
• Proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and basic reporting analysis.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and workflows.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry, product setup, and purchase order management.
• Strong communication and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Ability to identify issues, escalate risks appropriately, and support problem resolution in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Basic understanding of merchandising operations, inventory flow, and product lifecycle management preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, merchandising or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own accuracy and timeliness of purchase orders and product setup.
• Own integrity and reliability of product and vendor data.
• Own effective vendor communication and coordination.
• Own clear visibility into inventory status and timely escalation of risks, discrepancies, and opportunities impacting product flow and availability.
• Own readiness and completeness of samples, assets, and product information

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level