Associate Buyer

With support from the Director of Merchandising and Inventory Lifecycle Management (the Director), the Associate Buyer will formulate and execute buying and assortment strategies to maximize sales, net profit, and store performance for the assigned categories. The Associate Buyer is responsible for the overall health of inventory, maintaining proper stock levels and assortments through detailed analysis for the retail and online stores. • Review weekly replenishment/ transfer recommendations made by Retail Support Team and make necessary adjustments • Validate all replenishment POs written by Retail Support Team and send to Corporate Customer Service • Analyze stock performance and recommend merchandise for markdown and eventual RTV • Execute markdowns and other price changes in retail system • Manage minimums for auto replenishable stock, review and adjust when necessary • Plan and communicate Monthly Delivery Calendar for retail and online stores to ensure merchandise are delivered promptly and according to marketing plans; coordinate and negotiate with Shipping Department to minimize impact on merchandise delays • Work with Store Managers, Retail Operations, Customer Service, and Shipping Departments to resolve shipping discrepancies • Review and process damage returns, record damage reasons and spot trends for possible defective items or production issues and communicate with the Director and the Corporate Merchandising Team • Manage all inventory adjustments and cycle counts • Recommend and perform other analyses and actions needed to maintain inventory health Retail and Online store support • Communicate new product arrivals and business trends • Participate in store openings, closings and events as required • Attend weekly conference calls, store and manager meetings, and training sessions as required • Participate in weekly Online and Merchandising meetings and provide support as necessary • Attend monthly Online Target meetings to coordinate product launches in accordance with marketing plans • Work with Marketing to develop product knowledge materials for store teams • Lead bi-weekly product touch base with store managers, understand each store’s sales trend and adjust strategies accordingly • Ability to stand for 8+ hours or duration of scheduled shift • Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat and or twist • Ability to grasp, push, reach and manipulate objects with right/left hand(s).