Associate Buyer

As the Associate Buyer, you will be responsible for supporting the Buyer by managing and allocating inventory at the store level. The Associate Buyer must get the right product to the right store at the right time.

Description of Job Responsibilities:

• Reviews the allocation of inventory of key product categories for retail and online
• Identifies unproductive inventories (i.e., discontinued, excess, etc.) and works with merchants and the sales channels to sell through these inventories in a timely manner;
• Work with Merchandise Planner as needed to ensure proper in-stock levels, balancing store sales to inventory ratio’s;
• Create vendor scorecards on a monthly basis
• Provide support with building merchandise assortment and allocation strategies that generate high sales, profit and inventory turnover by store;
• Assist in the development, coordination and review of merchandise assortments by door/network;
• Collaborate with the store, buyer and planning teams on the implementation of assortment, allocation, space and replenishment strategies;
• Create reports to analyze sales, margin, and inventory along with SKU maintenance to support category initiatives at the store level;
• Business analysis and trends by store;
• New store planning – product execution, process paperwork to execute plan, coordinate product and acquire supporting product needs;
• Initiate and manage changes to purchase orders;
• Monitors designated replenishment styles by store;
• Act as operations support at the store level.
• Assist stores with questions related to price changes/receiving/promotions.
• Review and track marketing/merchandising promotional activity to ensure compliance to relevant pricing and advertising legislation.
• Manage ETI process for POD
• Lead positions assigned by the DOP
• Ensure the daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly checklists are being reviewed and managed by POD.
• Review allocation specialist’s inventory forecast
• Lead positions are responsible for; category strategy, expanded assortment, VBA creation & review

Essential Requirements and Qualifications

• Post-secondary education (University preferred) with a focus on retail, marketing or finance;
• 3-5 years’ work experience in retail planning, buying or merchandising;
• Proven analytical and problem solving abilities;
• Detailed orientated with a sense of urgency to follow-up;
• Ability to multi-task and easily adapt to current business trends;
• Business knowledge of retail inventory management, merchandising concepts and operations;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment;
• Strong computer skills, proficient with PC based applications including Microsoft Excel;
• Bachelor’s degree in retail, marketing or finance preferred.