Buyer I - Jared

Signet Jewelers•Akron, OH

About The Position

The Associate Buyer helps develop merchandise assortments and strategies to drive profitable category sales and productivity while ensuring product value, quality, and styling. The Associate Buyer either directly manages a small category or assists a Sr. Buyer or above in managing a larger category, and holds a leadership role within the category management team (CMT). Working within the CMT, this position partners closely with its manager to manage assortment planning, selection, maintenance, and promotion for designated product categories.

Responsibilities

Give input as requested to set the strategic vision for the category.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of jewelry market trends and competitive strategies, and adjust quickly to changing market trends, conditions, priorities, and corporate strategies.
Analyze and react to business on a weekly basis.
Participate in developing financial plans and advertising and marketing plans for designated product categories.
Assist with business reviews for designated product categories presented to leadership.
Oversee training and career development for direct reports or team members.
Develop, select, test, price, and acquire quality merchandise consistent with consumer demand and strategic department goals and policies.
Develop new product concepts or brands for test markets, with potential for expanded store rollout.
Participate in lifecycle management from idea inception through clearance and end of life.
Manage the vendor base strategically and identify and develop strong vendor partners.
Understand product cost structure.
Help plan and manage merchandising assortments for e-commerce websites.
Work with the Inventory Analyst to ensure proper in-stock levels.
Manage negotiations relating to the return of discontinued products to suppliers.
Negotiate annual purchasing agreement contracts with vendors.
Coordinate with marketing, visual display, and advertising departments to promote key items, programs, brands, and categories.
Merchandise marketing-channel items for designated product categories.
Present and justify catalog and promotional items to merchandise directors and vice presidents.
Partner with Sourcing on factory selection and cost negotiation.
Participate in managing open-to-buy for assigned product categories with the CMT and update it as needed.
Work with Signet’s accounting department, when applicable, to ensure credits and aging are applied correctly.
Assist the CMT with vendor performance issues, including late orders and quality control issues.
Proof advertising materials—including catalogs, emails, websites, customer mailings, and in-store signage—for accuracy.
Collaborate with the Visual Merchandising team on in-store presentations and planograms.
Work cross-functionally with Store Operations, Visual Merchandising, Distribution Center, and Planning teams on store tests, rollouts, returns to vendor, and related work.