Assistant Buyer - Electronics

Purpose: The Assistant Buyer provides operational support to the Buyer by contributing to the selection of merchandise assortments that are in line with market trends, margin objectives, and the broader strategic direction of the company.  

Essential Functions: 

• Interacts with vendors to gather items for setup, problem resolution, and purchasing of product; analyzes product performance and identifies growth opportunities 

• Oversees purchase orders including order writing, changes, cancellations; guarantees that key shipments are delivered, processed, and that necessary internal/external follow-up occurs  

• Responsible for developing a working knowledge of the buying functions including merchandise selection, negotiation, pricing and store merchandising 

• Acts as an intermediary between buyers and vendors to resolve issues including out of stocks, cost adjustments and new product selection 

• Reviews and analyzes daily/weekly reports, subsequently highlighting noteworthy achievements or possible concerns to the relevant buyer 

• Works closely with brand representatives to ensure ideal assortments and inventory levels 

• Assists in plan-o-gram development 

• Provides on-going analysis and interpretation of key business issues as directed by supervisor 

• Assists in planning/coordination of availability of products for new store openings 

Reporting Relationship: The Assistant Buyer reports to the Buyer/Senior Buyer in their category 

Major Interdependencies: Global Category team, Supply Chain, Master Data, Revenue Generation, Planning, Space Planning, Marketing, and Operations 

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:  

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 3 years: 

• In a technical role: Requires 3 years in retail    

• A bachelor’s degree in a business, marketing, or management program related to the functional area can count for 1 of the 3-year requirement 

• An MBA or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 1 years of 3-year requirement  

• In the industry: 3 years of retail experience  

• Specialized Training:  

• Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of the buying function      

• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits: 

• Knowledge of financial tools and concept profitability; understanding and use of market research and market trend information 

• Strong vendor relations; ability to establish and maintain strong relationships 

• Excellent communication skills 

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; excellent written communication and interpersonal communication skills 

• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple priorities; works comfortably under pressure to meet tight deadlines 

• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm 

• Business acumen and also has the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of buying and to advance the organization’s goals 

• Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population, and individual circumstances 

• Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments 

• Location/Travel:  

• This position is based at the Retail Center of Excellence in East Rutherford, NJ 

• Requires ability to travel up to 10% of the time for meetings and to visit branch locations