Assistant Buyer Job Description

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Assistant Buyer Job Description

Job descriptions
Retail and Consumer Products

Job summary 1

An Assistant Buyer is responsible for providing operational support to the Buyer with a focus on business management and problem-solving. They are committed to executing responsibilities and managing functions for a product category. They will develop an understanding of the company’s business and position in the market, evolving into an expert in a business category, and working with vendors, agents, and other suppliers. The Assistant Buyer should have a proven ability to multi-task and operate independently, with strong presentation, communication, and Excel skills.

Duties & Responsibilities 1

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Requirements & Skills 1

Results oriented with a high degree of resilience and perseverance.
Ability to maintain focus on goals and objectives that deliver results.
Strong logistics skills are required; will manage product flow from supplier to stores.
Learning agility to acquire/apply new practices in a constantly changing environment.
- Great communicator who works best in a collaborative environment and builds mutual trust and credibility at all levels of an organization.
- Strong analytical skills, systems thinking, and data-driven decision-making skills.
- Bachelor’s degree required 1-2 years of retail merchandising or buying experience in a fast-paced, dynamic environment Proficiency in MS Office applications, Tech savvy, with an emphasis on Excel spreadsheet application and PowerPoint.

Job summary 2

The Assistant Buyer will execute day-to-day tasks necessary to assist the Buying team. The Assistant Buyer will also obtain a general understanding of all Buying functions, including interdependencies with Production, Planning, and Distribution, participating in departmental meetings, and becoming familiar with buying tools, terminology, and responsibilities.

Duties & Responsibilities 2

Requirements & Skills 2

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 0-2 Years

Job summary 3

You’ll begin your journey as an Assistant Buyer by going through a hands-on training and onboarding program where you will become an expert on the off-price model, learn technical skills, and be exposed to all the resources we offer to ensure you are successful once placed. You’ll work with a mentor who will help guide and support you through training and beyond. You’ll spend time shadowing various buying teams both in the market and in the office, interacting with senior leadership, and completing classroom and online courses. You will also learn about cross-functional areas including Planning & Allocation and Supply Chain, among others, which make an impact on your business.

Duties & Responsibilities 3

Select and procure merchandise in conjunction with the Buyer in the assigned area of responsibility
Provide operational support to Buyers
Attends market visits to select and negotiates product that meets the customer’s needs and is priced competitively
Independently builds vendor relationships. Establishes a positive relationship to effectively influence vendors. This includes heavy interaction with vendors to solve problems and follow-up
Analyzes business, including selling reports, to provide recommendations to the buyer
- Maintains planned receipt flow consistently
- Tracks when merchandise is being received and uses judgment to make flow issue call-outs to buyers when needed
- Ensures adherence to scheduled shipping windows and negotiates late shipping discounts

Requirements & Skills 3

Bachelor’s degree required.
Experience working in retail preferred.
Candidates should be comfortable utilizing all Microsoft Office programs with a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel.

Job summary 4

The Assistant Buyer is a true learning role that allows you to build a foundation of merchant skills. As an Assistant Buyer, you will assist the buying team in advancing the business while learning key processes and providing operational support to your Buyer. You will begin to build your product knowledge and understand what the Store's customer wants!

Duties & Responsibilities 4

Perform the administrative functions supporting the buying team, including purchase order management, while building foundational merchant skills
Provide basic analysis of key business data and reporting, as directed by Buyer, including the monitoring of regional merchandise reports, Open-To-Buy, stock analysis, and other ad hoc reports
Develop effective relationships with vendors and appropriately interact with them to follow up on open business issues, as directed by Buyer
Begin to effectively utilize the merchandising systems and understand the warehouse process
- Develop and demonstrate basic product knowledge through sharing information with Buyers as a result of competitive shopping, shopping Stores, and the market
- Ensure timely delivery of merchandise through communication with Buyers, merchant teams, and external vendors
- Support Buyers in preparation of key business meetings (i.e. vendor appointments, style-outs, assortment planning)

Requirements & Skills 4

You have a passion for products!
You have the desire to learn, grow and engage
You have an understanding and prior use of retail math
You have a team player attitude
You have a drive for results
You are proficient in Excel
- You have a Bachelor's degree
- You are organized and pay attention to detail
- You are a strong communicator

Job summary 5

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for departmental support. Performs purchasing functions and assists the Buyers, Purchasing Manager, and Director of Supply Chain with the procurement of stock and non-stock supplies, equipment, and services. Assists Distribution Manager and staff with logistical support and processes as needed.

Duties & Responsibilities 5

Entry into item dictionary of patient chargeable
- implants and issues purchase order to vendor to complete the billing and payment. Data must be entered accurately and within the time frame required to meet billing deadlines.
- Handles equipment repair calls, monitors copier usage, processes purchase orders, runs reports, and assists with the daily functions of the Supply Chain department. Receives and screens department phone calls, mail, and visitors. Schedules courier service as needed.
- Utilizes Microsoft Office to update policies, create letters, forms, and procedures, and initiate other documents and correspondence as appropriate. Use of Excel to create and maintain spreadsheets, department non-stock annual inventories, and project notebooks. Maintains Service, Capital, and Contract files. Assists with other departmental activities as requested.

Requirements & Skills 5

Education: High School or equivalent (GED) required. Post-secondary education preferred
Experience: 1 to 3 years of experience

Job summary 6

We are looking for an Assistant Buyer that is motivated, results-oriented, and committed to providing organizational support to the merchandising team and partnering to manage the overall day-to-day.

Duties & Responsibilities 6

Requirements & Skills 6

Excellent communication, organization, and time management skills
Ability to multitask and adjust to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
Understanding of retail math concepts
Commitment to learning and continuous development
High sense of urgency and taste level
- Detail oriented with outstanding follow through
- Proficiency in MS Office
- BA/BS degree required

Job summary 7

An Assistant Buyer supports sales and profitability of the product line through contribution to Buyer's strategy and assortment development. Provides insight regarding general sales analysis, marketplace trends, and customers' needs, wants, and expectations. Supports department(s) through the management of all operational functions within the product life cycle and the buying process.

Duties & Responsibilities 7

Requirements & Skills 7

Ability to be flexible and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
High level of accuracy, detail orientation, and organization skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Assertive and solution-oriented when faced with obstacles
General understanding of customer, marketplace, and product
- Basic understanding of the product lifecycle
- Ability to complete current and historical analysis of the business to support recommendations and decisions (style/color level)
- Demonstrate leadership potential

Job summary 8

The Assistant Buyer prepares you for the Buyer position where you will own brands, lead, and Assistant Buyer, and analyze sales, return rates, customer reviews, new names, and the products and brands that resonate with our customers!

Duties & Responsibilities 8

Identify, develop, negotiate products, prices, and terms, and buy and execute new products, concepts, shows, and ideas that will deliver sales results across our multi-platforms.
Manage daily office operations and administrative work. Educate, communicate, and negotiate with vendors and cross-functional departments. Develop cross-functional internal relationships as well as external vendor relationships.
Lead the office function in the absence of the Buyer. Perform duties according to company policies and procedures with some latitude for independent judgment and initiative.

Requirements & Skills 8

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent business experience in corporate buying.
1-3 Years related work experience.
Excellent oral, written, and telephonic communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to make oral and written presentations. Ability and confidence to present opinions and thoughts in a clear, unbiased manner.
- Ability to make some decisions to achieve desired results.
- Excellent follow-through skills with a demonstrated sense of urgency.
- Ability to access and enter information using automated systems (e.g., windows based computer) quickly and accurately.

Job summary 9

The Assistant Buyer is a motivated individual that will participate in vendor selections and partnerships. They will assist with merchandise transfers, and ensure the resolution of data integrity. The Assistant Buyer will assist in providing information for the monitoring of inventory productivity, and the analysis of vendor profitability while providing data and analysis for price changes, and assisting in entering price changes online.

Duties & Responsibilities 9

Merchandising: Assists in vendor selection and in developing and maintaining strong vendor partnerships. Assists in monitoring industry trends and in evaluating competition, and attends major markets as feasible and necessary. Provides information for the development of the merchandise strategy, and assists in product selection and product and key item development as directed. Assists in conducting line reviews/style outs for management and staff. Assists in setting up new items in the item database. Ensures the dissemination of product knowledge to store associates. Executes the Best / Worst Seller Review. Develops sales unit performance reports. Aids in the preparation of the Merchandise Hindsight. Ensures merchandise samples are maintained accordingly.
Purchasing, Allocation, and Replenishment: Assists in analyzing class performance, planned class penetration, and average retail by class. Assists in managing the timely placement and maintenance of purchase orders. Assists in providing analysis to support micro-merchandising strategies. Participates in weekly allocation strategy sessions. Assists in merchandise transfer initiation. Executes returns to vendors as negotiated and necessary. Assists in providing feedback for space strategies (fixture /square footage). Ensures the resolution of data integrity (on hand) issues. Provides information for identification of distribution and vendor logistics opportunities. Aid in providing systems (STARS Planning / OTB) expertise for other users. Provides information for coordinating systems (STARS planning/OTB) enhancement requests.
Open-to-Buy Monitoring: Assists in the development and maintenance of the PO checkbook. Assists in the bi-monthly forecasting of sales and inventories through the OTB review process. Executes the markdown projection process and provides information for the projection and negotiation of vendor allowance. Supports the development and execution of aged inventory exit strategies. Monitors vendor-to-store receipt flows, and actual to-planned receipts. Manages the purchase journal review process. Assists in providing information for the monitoring of inventory productivity, and the analysis of vendor profitability. Monitors and evaluates the vendor-received not ordered compliance report.
- Pricing and Promotion: Assists in establishing pricing strategy. Provides data and analysis for price changes, and assists in entering price changes online promptly. Assists in planning and approving all advertising and promotions. Assists in providing information for the timely response to store visit notes. Provides feedback for ads in stock on promotional items, and ensures the communication of in-stock issues to stores. Provides analysis and monitors style advertising effectiveness. Manages product ticketing and in-store signage. Facilitates the issuance of store presentation guidance. Furnishes information to Price Management about store communications on pricing issues.
- Financial Planning: Provides information for the preliminary development of the vendor/store matrix. Provides information for the flow of the departmental topside plans by month. Assists in providing analysis for and participates in the Business Review.
- People Development: Participates in training and development. Helps to develop and support a team environment, and participates in the team's activities. Participates in fostering job satisfaction and positive morale.

Requirements & Skills 9

Strong interpersonal skills who can gain ground without damaging relationships. Can be both direct and diplomatic and gain trust from others quickly.
You often go above and beyond your goals. You are a consistent performer with a proven track record in driving positive outcomes through objectives and measures within a large complex organization.
Generates a variety of approaches to problem-solving quickly including new and novel ideas.
- Strong knowledge of and ability to apply retail math concepts, including elements of markup, margin planning, open-to-buy, and inventory productivity measures (WOS, T/O, GMROI).
- Excellent computer skills including MS Word and Excel.
- 1-2 years experience as an Assistant Buyer, preferably in a major department store.

Job summary 10

We are looking for an Assistant Buyer.

Duties & Responsibilities 10

Provide operational support to the Buyer.
Analyze financial data.
Develop merchandise assortments.
Negotiate with vendors and suppliers.
Organize and maintain department filing, shipping, order maintenance, and store receipts.
- Analyze and resolve order discrepancy issues.
- Conduct gross margin and vendor profitability analysis.
- Provide merchandise direction, including key item presentations and flow of goods to the store organization.

Requirements & Skills 10

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and position-related experience preferred.
Must possess strong math skills, good judgment, and the ability to learn new skills.
Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, and data entry.
Must have strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning skills.
- Must possess good communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Must be flexible and have the ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Some travel required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the job description of an assistant buyer?

An assistant buyer is responsible for supporting the buying team in a retail, wholesale, or manufacturing organization. The job description of an assistant buyer may vary depending on the industry, company, and size of the buying team, but typically includes the following duties and responsibilities:

Researching and analyzing market trends: The assistant buyer works with the buying team to research and analyze market trends to identify new product opportunities and consumer demands.

Vendor communication and negotiation: The assistant buyer communicates with vendors to negotiate pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules, and maintain positive vendor relationships.

Purchase order management: The assistant buyer assists in creating purchase orders and managing the ordering process, including tracking and expediting orders, ensuring that products are delivered on time and in the correct quantities.

Inventory management: The assistant buyer monitors inventory levels and makes recommendations to the buying team on when to restock or discontinue products.

Pricing analysis: The assistant buyer helps to determine pricing strategies based on market trends, competitive analysis, and product demand.

Sales analysis: The assistant buyer analyzes sales data to identify trends and opportunities to increase sales and improve profitability.

Administrative support: The assistant buyer performs administrative duties such as filing, data entry, and maintaining purchasing records and databases.

Overall, the role of an assistant buyer is to support the buying team in all aspects of the purchasing process, from researching and analyzing market trends to managing vendor relationships, purchase orders, inventory, and sales data. They play a critical role in ensuring that the company's purchasing operations run smoothly and efficiently.

What are the 5 most important skills and qualities of an assistant buyer?

The skills and qualities that make a successful assistant buyer may vary depending on the company and industry, but generally, the following skills and qualities are considered essential for an assistant buyer:

Analytical Skills: Assistant buyers must be able to analyze data and information to make informed decisions about purchasing products. They should be able to use tools like spreadsheets to track data and trends and identify opportunities to optimize purchasing strategies.

Negotiation Skills: Assistant buyers must be able to negotiate with vendors to get the best possible prices, terms, and conditions. They must be able to build and maintain positive vendor relationships while advocating for the needs of the company.

Attention to Detail: Assistant buyers must be detail-oriented and able to accurately process information to avoid costly mistakes. They must be able to track orders, monitor inventory levels, and ensure that purchase orders are processed accurately and efficiently.

Communication Skills: Assistant buyers must have excellent communication skills to liaise with vendors and other departments within the company. They should be able to communicate clearly and professionally in both verbal and written forms.

Organizational Skills: Assistant buyers must be organized and able to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. They should be able to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and ensure that purchasing operations run smoothly and efficiently.

Overall, a successful assistant buyer is someone analytical, a good negotiator, detail-oriented, communicative, and well-organized. These skills and qualities enable assistant buyers to manage purchasing operations effectively and efficiently and support the success of the company.

Olivia Powell
Recruiting expert

Last updated Sep 25

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Assistant Buyer Job Description

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Frequently asked questions

What is the job description of an assistant buyer?

What are the 5 most important skills and qualities of an assistant buyer?

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