Retail Buyer

Mount Vernon•Mount Vernon, VA

6d•$60,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Retail Buyer supports Mount Vernon’s mission by planning, purchasing, and maintaining the merchandise assortment for assigned categories. The position manages inventory levels, executes replenishment strategies, and maintains vendor relationships to support retail sales and an engaging visitor experience. Merchandise should reflect Mount Vernon’s educational priorities, including George Washington, his family, estate life, business ventures, military and political leadership, and 18th-century history relevant to Washington, D.C., Alexandria, and Virginia. The Buyer works across Retail, Library, Warehouse, Finance, Events, and Marketing to coordinate merchandise flow, support book signings and special events, and maintain a well-curated product mix. Cin7 Core is the inventory management system of record, and Shopify is the point-of-sale system. This full-time, exempt role is performed in a retail or gift shop setting and involves frequent interaction with the public. The environment can be busy and fast-paced, especially during peak visitor hours. Noise is generally moderate but can be high during peak season. The position requires standing for extended periods, walking throughout the store, handling merchandise, operating a cash register, restocking shelves, and occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds. Clear communication skills are essential.

Requirements

Three to four years of experience in retail buying, inventory management, or procurement.
Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel, with the ability to turn sales and inventory data into purchasing decisions.
Experience with inventory management and point-of-sale systems.
Effective problem-solving, communication, vendor relationship, and negotiation skills.
Strong organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
A dependable, collaborative approach and an interest in American history and Mount Vernon’s educational mission.
Ability to stand for extended periods, walk throughout the store, handle merchandise, operate a cash register, and restock shelves.
Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
Clear communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Museum retail or publications experience.
Experience with Cin7 Core and Shopify.

Responsibilities

Plan and maintain a balanced assortment for assigned categories that supports Mount Vernon’s mission, customer interests, sales goals, and approved budgets.
Monitor sales trends, forecasts, seasonality, and stock requirements to guide purchasing decisions and generate timely, accurate purchase orders within approved authority.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant publications and merchandise, and share product information and historical context with staff.
Develop book merchandising plans with input from Library, Events, and Retail leadership; identify assortment gaps and recommend new titles and products.
Track open orders, backorders, quantities, ship dates, cancel dates, and delivery details, adjusting orders as demand and operational needs change.
Provide the Director of Retail with updates every two weeks on open orders, inventory concerns, and purchasing priorities.
Maintain appropriate stock levels and replenishment schedules while limiting excess and aged inventory.
Review category performance, inventory turns, days on hand, gross margins, and SKU productivity; plan reorders, markdowns, and product discontinuations.
Coordinate replenishment and merchandise transfers with Retail and Warehouse teams.
Partner with Warehouse to confirm deliveries, address quality concerns, and resolve receiving discrepancies.
Participate in annual physical inventory preparation and counts, including reviewing and cleaning up category records.
Maintain productive vendor and publisher relationships that support reliable, timely, and cost-efficient delivery.
Coordinate pricing, purchasing terms, product availability, and delivery schedules; evaluate vendor performance and follow through on concerns.
Resolve pricing changes, delays, shortages, damages, and invoicing discrepancies with vendors and appropriate internal teams.
Coordinate vendor returns, replacements, and credit requests, and track them through resolution.
Maintain accurate purchasing, SKU, vendor, cost, retail price, and replenishment information in Cin7 Core.
Coordinate with system owners to resolve product, pricing, or inventory discrepancies affecting Shopify POS and maintain consistency with Cin7 Core.
Produce regular reports on inventory performance, category needs, open orders, vendor issues, and replenishment activity.
Work with the Retail Office Manager to support invoice accuracy and timely processing; maintain organized purchasing records for continuity and audit readiness.
Coordinate inventory needs, delivery timing, signage, and merchandising with Events and Retail for book signings, special programs, and promotions.
Provide product descriptions, images, historical context, and other information needed by Marketing and eCommerce teams.
Communicate incoming merchandise, stock concerns, and delivery changes to affected departments.
Maintain 90–94% in-stock levels for assigned categories, excluding uncontrollable vendor delays, and reduce out-of-stock instances through improved forecasting and order follow-up.
Keep overstock of 120 or more days on hand within category goals, improve inventory turns year over year, and address slow sellers through timely markdown and product exit recommendations.
Support category gross margin goals through thoughtful purchasing, replenishment, and cost management.
Submit accurate purchase orders on time and follow up on confirmed ship and cancel dates.
Resolve vendor discrepancies within five business days whenever possible, and communicate outstanding issues and next steps when additional time is needed.
Maintain accurate item setup and purchasing records, prepare categories for inventory counts, and demonstrate reliable, professional collaboration.