Skills & Competencies for Merchandise Buyer Assistant

Merchandise Buyer Assistant job profile

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JOB SUMMARY for Merchandise Buyer Assistant

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

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Merchandise Buyer Assistant

May be responsible for some inventory replenishment but without open-to-buy responsibilities.

Merchandise Buyer Assistant SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$59,680
TOTAL 50%
$60,005
Job Level
P01
Job Code
SM15000254
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Supervisor

Merchandise Buyer Assistant 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 skill and competencie below to view definitions.
INDUSTRY COMPETENCIES JOB FAMILY COMPETENCIES CORE COMPETENCIES
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7 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Merchandise Buyer Assistant

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)
Defines the importance of effective merchandising strategies in boosting retail sales and profit margins.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Assists customers with product inquiries by providing information about features, pricing, and availability.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Addresses intricate complaints and concerns effectively to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Contributes to the development of retail pricing strategies to maximize profitability and competitiveness.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the adoption of predictive analytics to optimize pricing, inventory management, and marketing strategies.
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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 - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 5

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

1 Job Family Competencies – Cost Control
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Discusses how to control costs and keep other expenses within budget.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports cost control initiatives throughout the organization.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Makes cost-effective decisions dealing with outside vendors to control expenditures.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages and oversees all cost control aspects for a large-scale project from inception to completion.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Generates and establishes strict cost controls for all company spending in alignment with the budget.
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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)
Explains the importance of reverse logistics in promoting the cost-effective handling of goods and returns.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Gathers the criteria used for evaluating returned items to determine if they are eligible for return, repair, or refund.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Helps management in designing the reverse logistic networks to minimize transportation distances and costs.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Designs the guidelines for assessing returned items to guide staff on the proper course of action for returned items.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Establishes standardized operating procedures for the inspection and sorting for the reverse logistical process.
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3 Merchandise Buyer Assistant - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 5

8 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Merchandise Buyer Assistant

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)
Discusses the importance of scheduling, which includes achieving a good work-life balance.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Records employee availability to increase attendance at scheduled meetings.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Prepares staffing forecast dashboards as well as comparative data on results versus forecasts.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages travel arrangements or schedules, such as booking flights and making hotel or restaurant reservations.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Creates strategies and objectives to improve the functional infrastructure of general workforce scheduling.
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2 Core Competencies – Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Proficiency Level -1
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)
Describes the concepts and purposes of Key Performance Indicators (KPI).
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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)
Defines KPIs in terms of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (SMART) goal criteria.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Develops and delivers training programs on KPI practices to employees and managers.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Defines and modifies strategic KPIs to drive organizational objectives and priorities.
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3 Merchandise Buyer Assistant - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer Assistant
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Merchandise Buyer Assistant skills and competencies

There are 7 hard skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Retail Industry, Merchandising, Merchandise Quality and Compliance, etc.
4 general skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Cost Control, Reverse Logistics, Inventory Control, etc.
8 soft skills for Merchandise Buyer Assistant, Scheduling, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Attention to Detail, etc.
While the list totals 19 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, he or she needs to be proficient in Scheduling, be proficient in Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and be proficient in Attention to Detail.

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