Associate Buyer

Michaels • Irving, TX

3d

About The Position

The Associate Buyer executes product strategies and manages vendor relationships for assigned categories. The role leads merchandise selection, performance analysis, and operational execution to help ensure the right products are available at the right time. It also manages a small team of individual contributors and contributes to their growth and development.

The position is based at the Support Center in Irving. Michaels describes its purpose as fueling the joy of creativity and celebration and operates more than 1,300 stores in 49 states and Canada, as well as online at Michaels.com and Michaels.ca. The company also owns Artistree, a manufacturer of custom and specialty framing merchandise.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of buying experience, with progressively responsible assignments in a merchandising organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Excel or other data analysis tools to extract insights and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong collaboration skills for partnering with cross-functional teams.
• Flexibility and resilience, and comfort working in a constantly changing environment.
• Strong decision-making, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.

Nice To Haves

• Planning and inventory experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of category strategies aligned with company goals and customer insights.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to inform category decisions.
• Lead vendor negotiations and manage vendor relationships to enhance category performance.
• Curate and maintain a compelling product assortment.
• Analyze sales data and customer feedback to identify assortment gaps and opportunities.
• Own product selection, line reviews, and seasonal planning processes.
• Manage product data to ensure the Good/Better/Best strategy is accurately reflected in company systems.
• Support development of pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness and profitability.
• Monitor price changes, promotions, and markdowns to optimize margin and inventory levels.
• Conduct regular pricing analysis and recommend adjustments.
• Assist in building and maintaining financial plans, including sales forecasts, margin targets, and inventory levels.
• Track performance against financial goals and provide actionable insights to improve results.
• Partner with planning and allocation teams to align with financial objectives.
• Manage a small team of individual contributors and contribute to their growth and development.

Benefits

• 401(k) with employer match, depending on position and eligibility.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Medical coverage, depending on position and eligibility.
• Dental coverage, depending on position and eligibility.
• Vision coverage, depending on position and eligibility.
• Telemedicine services.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter benefits.
• Tuition assistance.
• Adoption assistance.
• Various voluntary insurance options.
• Employee discounts.
• Access to partner discount programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed