Skills & Competencies for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. job profile

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JOB SUMMARY for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

Assists merchandise buyers in selecting merchandise, placing orders, and distributing inventory.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

Responsible for inventory replenishment with open-to-buy responsibilities over a segment of the buyer's department.

Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$77,584
TOTAL 50%
$79,537
Job Level
P02
Job Code
SM15000255
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Supervisor

Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. skill and competencie below to view definitions.
INDUSTRY COMPETENCIES JOB FAMILY COMPETENCIES CORE COMPETENCIES
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9 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

1 Industry Competency – Retail Industry
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Applying comprehensive knowledge of retail principles, inventory management, pricing strategies, and consumer behavior to effectively manage and operate retail businesses.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains how omnichannel retail provides consistent and convenient shopping experience for customers.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows the established merchandising guidelines when organizing product displays and storage.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Conducts regular retail audits to optimize operations, improve performance, and uphold standards.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Guides and mentors the staff in visual merchandising best practices to maintain consistent and high-quality displays.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops and implements new retail business models to enhance the customer experience and foster brand loyalty.
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2 Industry Competency – Merchandising
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Strategically planning, executing, and managing product merchandising, pricing, and promotions to increase customer engagement and maximize revenue.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the standards and procedures for creating visually appealing product displays.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Contributes to merchandise stocking and restocking planning, following standard rules and procedures.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Makes necessary adjustments to product pricing and merchandising to maintain profit margins.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Guides and trains retail teams on merchandising techniques and visual presentation strategies.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs and executes merchandise allocation strategies across a wide variety of retail organization types.
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3 Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

4 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

1 Job Family Competencies – Cost Control
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Describes the importance of cost control in minimizing the expenses of the organization.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Carries out the change management processes for cost control of assigned projects.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Maintains adequate cost controls in financial initiatives to support the organization's profitability.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Directs cost control using appropriate accounting cost techniques to maximize revenue.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops cost control procedures to ensure maximum financial coverage.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Reverse Logistics
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Developing techniques and processes to manage the distribution and determine the appropriate course of action for returned products.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compares the difference between conducting reverse and traditional logistics for an organization.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows the established guidelines for processing returned goods in reverse logistics.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Handles inventory management processes of reverse logistic goods to enable a cost-effective recovery.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Delivers training to staff on techniques for operating reverse logistics management systems.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops return policies and procedures to identify fraudulent returns and manage the disposition of returned products.
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3 Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

9 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.

1 Core Competencies – Scheduling
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Ability to plan and organize activities, tasks, and resources to achieve business goals and objectives within timeframe and budget.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compiles a list of tools used to effectively schedule activities, such as Google Calendar and Canva.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Identifies and resolves scheduling conflicts between employees to ensure a smooth workflow.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Makes adjustments and recommendations for optimizing scheduling to maximize service and quality.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Coordinates with cross-functional teams to align work schedules with project activities.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds integrated database tracking tools for staffing shrinkage patterns to optimize staffing scheduling forecasts.
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2 Core Competencies – Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Knowledge of and ability to apply a set of quantifiable measurements to determine how effectively an individual, team or organization is achieving a business objective.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Contrasts KPI with other performance management tools, such as Balanced Score Card (BSC) and Objectives and Key Results (OKR).
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows up on regular action items related to KPI implementation.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Consolidates internal and external information to define and select applicable KPI.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Designs and develops KPI metrics and dashboards for various functions and purposes.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Conducts lectures on KPI best practices at industry conferences.
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3 Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr. skills and competencies

There are 9 hard skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr., Retail Industry, Merchandising, Merchandise Quality and Compliance, etc.
4 general skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr., Cost Control, Reverse Logistics, Inventory Control, etc.
9 soft skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr., Scheduling, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Financial Acumen, etc.
While the list totals 22 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Sr., he or she needs to be proficient in Scheduling, be proficient in Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and be proficient in Financial Acumen.

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