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%
$59,826
TOTAL 50%
$60,151
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)
Describes the application of upselling, cross-selling, and closing sales techniques in retail operations.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Conducts research on current and upcoming distribution channels tailored to a specific product category.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Analyzes consumer buying patterns and trends to predict product and service demands.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Creates and leverages KPIs to assess the effectiveness of retail sales strategies and promotional methods.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs and executes customer segmentation and personalization techniques to deliver tailored marketing promotions.
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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)
Defines the legal and ethical considerations for merchandising, such as product labeling requirements.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Assists in arranging product assortments and displays to optimize space and enhance brand visibility.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Conducts regular store visits to ensure proper product allocation, replenishment, and pricing.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Creates and leverages performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of merchandising strategies.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Champions the adoption of advanced analytics and predictive modeling tools to optimize inventory turnover.
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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)
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)
Identifies the common issues our organization encounters when performing reverse logistics.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Reports reverse logistical issues and problems during the transportation and distribution of returned products.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Performs data analysis to identify issues and improvement opportunities for the reverse logistic process.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages the resolution of inventory issues to minimize cost and prevent value loss from returned items.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads the organization in technology integration to help automate reverse logistic processes and enhance data accuracy.
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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)
Lists ways to improve scheduling skills, including setting deadlines, using a planner and delegating tasks.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Reports the changes in scheduled appointments for management to review.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Uses organizational workforce models to determine schedules that meet operational commitments.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Organizes calendars for department personnel to set meetings, conferences, teleconferences, and travel.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs an organizational timetable to keep track of all scheduled activities of employees.
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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)
Explains the benefits and risks of using KPIs.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Gathers internal and external benchmarks for KPI development.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Interprets and analyses KPI data to recommend courses of action.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Evaluates ongoing productivity; recommends corresponding modifications on KPIs as indicated.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads efforts to improve performance as identified and measured by KPIs.
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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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