Buyer, Merchandise - WSS

Foot Locker•Los Angeles, CA

23d•$124,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This hybrid position will be located at our WSS office. Expectations for hybrid in-office schedule is three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Buyer owns the end-to-end strategic direction and financial performance of their assigned category. Partnering directly with the Merchandise Leader, the Buyer is responsible for architecting and executing annual financial plans—specifically driving sales, optimizing margins, and maximizing inventory turns. As an entrepreneurial leader, the Buyer has the autonomy to "run their own business" within WSS, translating high-level strategy into actionable tactics for their team while prioritizing collective organizational growth. Buyers will be paired with a Planner and a Merchandiser who will function with the Buyer as business partners to achieve the financial Plan.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
3+ years of direct buying experience within a fast-paced retail environment.
A well-rounded foundational background in retail store management, allocation, inventory planning, or merchandising.
Advanced proficiency in Retail ERP systems, merchandise management software, and the Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel capabilities required).
Proven leadership capability, exceptional communication skills, sharp financial acumen, and a thrive-on-autonomy mindset.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Ability to use, apply, and understand basic retail math concepts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages).
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and use basic problem-solving skills.
Strong analytical skills.
Ability to remain flexible, prioritize, and respond to changing requests from your team.
Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff and management.
Be an independent and self-motivated team player.

Responsibilities

Own and maximize retail growth, revenue, and profitability for assigned area(s), ensuring all category actions align with or exceed established financial plans.
Curate highly competitive, customer-centric product assortments and confidently pitch seasonal strategies and business opportunities to Senior Management.
Cultivate high-value vendor relationships, leveraging strong negotiation skills to secure favorable business terms, exclusive products, and profitable margins.
Drive agile, in-season inventory management including forecasting, dynamic markdown strategies, inventory consolidation, and order management (PO modifications/cancellations).
Collaborate with Planning and Allocation teams to optimize stock levels, maximize sell-through, and implement strategic redistribution initiatives.
Develop and execute impactful advertising and promotional strategies that highlight product investments and accelerate retail sales.
Partner seamlessly with Marketing, Store Operations, and Visual Merchandising to ensure the category vision is flawlessly executed in-store and online.
Lead, mentor, and empower direct support staff—including Planners, Merchandise Analysts, and Merchandise Coordinators—fostering a high-performance, collaborative environment.