Associate Buyer - Children's

JCPenney•Dallas, TX

38d•$65,000 - $105,000

About The Position

The Associate Buyer works with the Buyer or Sr. Buyer in identifying, executing and communicating long term and seasonal merchandise strategies through the development of assortment plans. The Associate Buyer will control merchandising and marketing messages that meet or exceed sales, profit and inventory plans for JCPenney Stores and JCP.com

Requirements

College degree or equivalent business experience
Minimum 4 years merchandising experience; preferably with a large organization in a similar role
Thorough knowledge of buying and operations gained through progressive buying experience
Assortment optimization and Business Planning
Supplier and Price Management
Strong Decision Making ability and Negotiation Skills
Adaptability/Perseverance
Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook required

Responsibilities

Develop a competitive merchandise assortment plan that is customer focused and adjusts to sales plans based on competition, business needs, and fashion/industry trends
Manage all aspects of assortment, product placement, order writing, marketing, pricing, signing, and markdowns
Build strong product assortments with suppliers and negotiate pricing and inventory for assigned categories
Utilize open-to-buy to manage business pre-season and in-season while working in tangent with Planner to maximize business opportunities
Evaluate suppliers on new and existing products, including but not limited to quality, pricing, shipping time, customer demand and return on investment
Integrate brand, sourcing, marketing and supply chain functions into the merchandising process to make business decisions
Determine item lifecycles and exit strategies as well as identify items to maximize promotional and marketing strategies
Attend all market weeks, store trips, trade shows and conferences
Train and coach Assistant Buyers & Sr. Assistant Buyers