Associate Buyer, Women's Accessories
About The Position
The Associate Buyer supports the Buying team through vendor selection and partnership development, helping ensure the assortment reflects company standards and customer needs. The role contributes to inventory productivity analysis, vendor profitability reviews, pricing strategy, sales growth, and financial performance. It may also include leading and mentoring Assistant Buyers and supporting category strategies and business objectives. The Associate Buyer leads market cycles, manages orders and checkbook activity, develops assortment and brand-growth strategies, and oversees in-season product, markdowns, returns to vendors (RTVs), receipts, and inventory targets. The role also supports financial planning, open-to-buy (OTB) and markdown projections, vendor negotiations, promotions, cross-functional collaboration, and buying-office operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent retail experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in a buying office, with a strong understanding of buying operations and retail strategy.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience, with strong leadership, management, and organizational skills.
- Ability to apply retail math concepts, including markup, margin planning, OTB, WOS, T/O, and GMROI.
- Proficiency in MS Office, Google Sheets/Docs, and PowerPoint.
- Strong communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to lead meetings and build trust with stakeholders.
- Track record of consistently exceeding goals and driving positive outcomes in complex organizations.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and a creative approach to new challenges.
- Strong interpersonal, customer-focus, conflict-management, and negotiation skills.
- Self-starter able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead market cycles, manage orders, and collaborate with Brand Partnerships and the Buying Lead.
- Oversee checkbook management and support brand growth strategies.
- Analyze product selection and pricing, and conduct vendor negotiations.
- Manage the portfolio, in-season product, markdowns, and returns to vendors (RTVs).
- Track receipts and ensure inventory targets are met.
- Develop assortment strategies to meet financial goals and key performance indicators.
- Negotiate with partners and review financial plans.
- Manage open-to-buy (OTB), markdown projections, and RTV negotiations.
- Build cross-functional relationships and manage vendor communication.
- Collaborate with marketing, Store Planning, and the Bangalore team.
- Mentor and guide others in the ECDP program; the role may also lead and mentor Assistant Buyers.
- Execute assortment strategies and financial planning.
- Develop promotions with sales support teams.
- Meet sales and profit goals and manage buying-office operations.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Basic life insurance
- Supplemental life insurance
- Disability insurance
- Additional voluntary benefits, such as critical illness, hospital, and accident insurance
- Employee discount
- Career advancement opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
