Buyer - Coolers & Lunch

Target • Minneapolis, MN

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

A role in Buying means working with several diverse vendors to choose the best product mix, both in-store and online. We help determine where to localize, while calibrating market positioning and acting as brand managers. Here, you’ll own a wide SKU count so that your work is varied and challenging. Through cross-functional collaboration, instinct and creativity, you will be the expert on the guest, the market and the competition. A Buyer helps create omni-channel growth by planning profitable and locally relevant assortments using your grasp of guest shopping behavior, assortment requirements and competitors. You will influence and negotiate with vendors to achieve results and identify gaps and opportunities. Your flexibility in reacting to business results and your ability to translate financial metrics and data into actionable strategies will be critical. You will lead cross-functional teams to drive category results while managing progress toward sales and margin goals. Your partnerships with product designers and/or category managers and vendors will help guide product development as you source appropriately for your category. You will interact with Associate Buyers, Senior Merchandise Specialists, the Pricing and Promotion Center of Excellence, Planning, Site Merchandising, the Item Center of Excellence and many other expert partners in support of your promotional planning work across channels. This opportunity leads the Coolers & Lunch category, overseeing a high-impact business that includes coolers, lunch boxes, lunch bags, and food storage. The role manages strategic partnerships with leading national and premium brands while supporting the growth of owned brands. The Buyer is responsible for developing and executing category strategy, building compelling assortments, and driving profitable growth across multiple channels. In addition to leading the core business, this role helps shape how the category comes to life during key seasonal moments, including Summer and Back-to-School. Success in this role requires strong business acumen, customer and market insight, financial rigor, and the ability to influence cross-functional partners to deliver exceptional business results in a fast-paced retail environment. This is an opportunity for a strategic merchandising leader who thrives on building brand partnerships, identifying emerging trends, and creating differentiated customer experiences. Core responsibilities are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

Requirements

• Four-year degree or equivalent experience
• 1+ years of Merchandising experience
• Strong strategic and analytical skills to grow a business
• Strong collaboration skills to partner with Cross Functional Teams
• Flexibility, resilient and comfortable working in “grey areas” that are constantly changing
• Strong eye for product, aesthetics, and cultural relevance — understands how trend intersects with culture.

Responsibilities

• Choose the best product mix, both in-store and online.
• Determine where to localize, while calibrating market positioning and acting as brand managers.
• Own a wide SKU count so that your work is varied and challenging.
• Create omni-channel growth by planning profitable and locally relevant assortments using your grasp of guest shopping behavior, assortment requirements and competitors.
• Influence and negotiate with vendors to achieve results and identify gaps and opportunities.
• Translate financial metrics and data into actionable strategies.
• Lead cross-functional teams to drive category results while managing progress toward sales and margin goals.
• Guide product development as you source appropriately for your category.
• Develop and execute category strategy, building compelling assortments, and driving profitable growth across multiple channels.
• Shape how the category comes to life during key seasonal moments, including Summer and Back-to-School.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree