Senior Buyer

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Buyer will work with the DMM and CMO to create an annual financial Plan for their area of responsibility. This will include an overall number for sales, margin and inventory turns. Once this Plan is created, the Buyer is then charged with meeting or exceeding the Plan in their area.

A Buyer must be a leader; a leader who has a strategy and vision and can communicate these to their team along with delegating and prioritizing the tactics and responsibilities necessary to achieve success.

A successful Buyer at WSS will enjoy the freedom and creativity to lead in the development of their business; Skills and creativity including, but not limited to, retail and cost engineering designed to surpass margin rate plans while driving topline retail sales growth and the foresight & consumer understanding to develop trend-right, timely assortments. A Buyer must understand that they are a critical member of the team, but that the team’s success is more important than their individual success.

Buyers will be paired with a Planner and a Merchandiser who will function with the Buyer as business partners to achieve the financial Plan.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maximize the retail growth and profitability of their assigned area(s).
• Enhance and maintain excellent vendor relationships highlighting the ability to develop and negotiate reasonable business solutions.
• Display strong assortment planning skills and the ability to clearly articulate and present seasonal strategies to Senior Management from a financial and product perspective.
• Exhibit leadership qualities as you manage, hire and develop a team of Buyer Assistants and Merchandise Coordinators.
• Excellent Planning and Allocation skills and understanding of key retail concepts.
• Display strong in-season retail management skills including re-order skills, markdown strategy & execution, inventory consolidation, redistribution strategy and PO push/cancel/modification skills, etc.
• Develop and execute relevant advertising strategies that highlight the assortment investment and drive retail sales and margin.
• Strong cross functional skills in working with the Marketing, Store Operations and Visual Merchandising teams to communicate their vision and assortment plans to the customer, which results in the business meeting and achieving the financial Plans.
• Build strong relationships across internal organization and with external partners. Communicate in a professional manner and respond with timely and accurate information.
• Provide daily support to all teammates including, but not limited to, Planners, Merchandise Analysts, Buyer Assistants and Merchandise Coordinators.