Replenishment Buyer

The Guitar Center Company•Frederick, MD

6d•$75,000 - $80,000

About The Position

At Music & Arts, the right inventory, at the right time, and in the right place makes all the difference for educators and students. The Replenishment Buyer plays a critical role in keeping our stores appropriately stocked through the unique rhythms of the school year by balancing demand forecasts with vendor lead times, transit costs, and financial goals to support our educational mission. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented inventory management or buying professional who thrives in a fast-paced, seasonal environment. The Replenishment Buyer offers a strong opportunity to deepen your expertise in inventory management within a highly collaborative retail environment. You’ll lead Allocation, working closely with the Category Management team, Merchandise Planning team, Marketing team, Supply Chain team, and Store team to support school-driven assortments. You’ll have responsibility for placing purchase orders for inventory and overseeing the allocation of that inventory to distribution hubs and stores. By continually monitoring store in-stock rates, DC inventory levels, order lead times, and on-order product you will play a key role in keeping Music & Arts running smoothly.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, or related field (or equivalent experience)
2–4 years of experience in replenishment, buying, inventory management, or supply chain
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales and inventory data
Proficiency in Excel with V-lookups, Pivot Tables and pulling together large data sets into cohesive reporting
Inventory and/or planning systems experience
Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in specialty retail, education-focused retail, or multi-seasonal assortments
Familiarity with school-year driven demand cycles or rental programs
Experience working with long-lead-time vendors or import product
Understanding of Retail Math: Sales, GM, Turns, Sell-through, weeks of supply, and fill rate

Responsibilities

Lead Allocation partners in managing replenishment for assigned Music & Arts categories (e.g., band & orchestra instruments, accessories printed materials, rentals, and supplies)
Create, manage, and release purchase orders based on Planning forecasts, sales trends, seasonality, lead times and supply chain expense management
Ensure strong in-stock performance during peak periods including back-to-school, rental season, and concert cycles
Monitor inventory levels, weeks of supply, backorders, and excess inventory; recommend and execute corrective actions
Support rental and school-specific inventory needs in partnership with planning and operations teams
Manage the allocation of goods across multiple warehouses, and stores
Partner with Merchandise Planning to align replenishment with annual, seasonal, and promotional plans
Analyze sales trends, historical demand, and school calendar impacts to refine allocation forecasts
Monitor vendor performance, fill rates, and lead times to identify risks and opportunities
Support item transitions, new item introductions, and end-of-life strategies
Maintain strong working relationships with domestic and international vendors
Communicate forecasts, seasonal needs, and priority SKUs to support Music & Arts’ service-level commitments
Resolve vendor issues including shortages, substitutions, late shipments, and cost discrepancies
Collaborate with cross-functional partners across Distribution Centers, Store Operations, Rentals, and Field Teams to support execution
Support promotions, catalogs, and school-driven programs through proactive inventory planning
Partner with Supply Chain to manage inbound flow and mitigate constraints during peak seasons
Ensure item setup accuracy
Maintain data integrity across merchandising and inventory systems
Prepare regular reporting on inventory health, service levels, and action plans
Identify opportunities to improve replenishment processes, tools, and vendor collaboration