Skills & Competencies for Merchandise Buyer, Sr.

Merchandise Buyer, Sr. job profile

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JOB SUMMARY for Merchandise Buyer, Sr.

Selects merchandise for order, places order, and stays involved in inventory distribution.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Merchandise Buyer, Sr.

Reviews success of previous orders to determine extent to which inventory should be replenished. Researches new trends or advances in product lines to make appropriate buying decisions. Functions as a decision maker with orders of a larger and more complex scope.

Merchandise Buyer, Sr. SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$147,138
TOTAL 50%
$164,429
Job Level
P04
Job Code
SM15000258
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Supervisor or Manager

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

1 Industry Competency – Retail Industry
Proficiency Level -2
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)
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 -2
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, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

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

1 Job Family Competencies – Cost Control
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Cites processes, procedures, principles, and practices of cost control.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Assists in maintaining cost control by monitoring department expenditures.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Implements cost control initiatives to influence the organization's bottom line in each region positively.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Creates cost control measures to facilitate the financial well-being of the department.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Builds cost control processes to ensure plans and business goals are in alignment.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Reverse Logistics
Proficiency Level -2
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, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

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

1 Core Competencies – Scheduling
Proficiency Level -3
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 -3
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)
Gathers internal and external benchmarks for KPI development.
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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)
Establishes organizational Key Performance Indicators (KPI) frameworks and management processes.
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3 Merchandise Buyer, Sr. - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Merchandise Buyer, Sr.
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Merchandise Buyer, Sr. skills and competencies

There are 8 hard skills for Merchandise Buyer, Sr., Retail Industry, Merchandising, Merchandise Quality and Compliance, etc.
3 general skills for Merchandise Buyer, Sr., Cost Control, Reverse Logistics, Strategic Sourcing.
10 soft skills for Merchandise Buyer, Sr., Scheduling, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Financial Acumen, etc.
While the list totals 21 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, Sr., he or she needs to be skilled in Scheduling, be skilled in Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and be skilled in Financial Acumen.

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