Associate Buyer

Salary Range $62,400 - $80,200*

Job Description:
WHO WE ARE:
Saks Global is the largest multi-brand luxury retailer in the world, comprising Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks OFF 5TH, Last Call and Horchow. Its retail portfolio includes 70 full-line luxury locations, additional off-price locations and five distinct e-commerce experiences. With talented colleagues focused on delivering on our strategic vision, The Art of You, Saks Global is redefining luxury shopping by offering each customer a personalized experience that is unmistakably their own. By leveraging the most comprehensive luxury customer data platform in North America, cutting-edge technology, and strong partnerships with the world's most esteemed brands, Saks Global is shaping the future of luxury retail.

Saks Global Properties & Investments includes Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus flagship properties and represents nearly 13 million square feet of prime U.S. real estate holdings and investments in luxury markets.

YOU WILL BE:
The Associate Buyer is responsible for developing and executing merchandise strategies for focus areas to deliver optimal profitability. You will use merchandise strategies, have robust product and industry knowledge to deliver results for the company with the support of the Buyer. Within your focus area you will oversee buying for stores and digital with a focus on: selecting, negotiating and delivering the right product to drive key performance indicators.Communication will be a critical part of success with both internal and external partners.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Business Acumen:
Develop strategic vision for a defined portion of the Buyers portfolio. Using data to make prudent and effective business decisions.

Anticipate business changes in a proactive manner and is adaptable to change

Partner with Planning on managing OTB hitting key metrics and liquidity targets.

Write buys based off of business analysis and assortment-planning tools.

Work closely with vendors, monitor industry trends, evaluate competition, and attend markets.

Analyze business and maximize opportunities. Manages receipts and flow of goods. Negotiates and collaborates with vendors.

Drives execution of the merchandise strategy, focusing on in-season management to ensure optimal productivity.

Continue to build and grow strong and meaningful vendor relationships.

Analyze reports to help synthesize data from all aspects of the business and multiple data points to quickly size risks and opportunities.

Work through ambiguity, while maintaining the agility and speed necessary to react to an off-price buying environment.

Make all business decisions in their area of responsibility with the customer experience in mind, becoming a customer champion in all aspects of the buying process.

Strong negotiator:
Have knowledge of the price/value equation and anticipate the needs of the business.

Negotiate and secure merchandise for seasonal opportunities both in-season and packaway.

Business Pulse:
Develop a strong sense of current business at any given moment

Monitor and reacts to inventory productivity

Collaborate with the Marketing and Digital team by owning the Seasonal Marketing Calendar

Have a pulse on the market trends and the competitive landscape.

Building Partnerships

Work closely and works well with all cross functional teams

Continues to gain knowledge of store landscapes and localization strategies

Navigate through the nuances of online promotions and strategies

Work with marketing teams on promotions and event pricing

Planning Knowledge and Partnerships

Identify business opportunities with planning team

Have thorough understanding of open-to-buy, markdown management and financials

Partner with Planning team with product assortments

Action-oriented: Not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning. Seizes opportunities more than others. Armed with enough information to make good business decisions quickly.

Embracing Ambiguity: Shifts gears comfortably. Can decide and act without having the total picture. Comfortable handling risk and uncertainty.

Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly. Can anticipate future consequences and outcomes accurately

Decision Making: Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure

Perseverance: Able to push through to closure, even with business challenges or setbacks. Motivates team to maintain focus.

Interpersonal Savvy: Builds constructive and effective relationships internally and externally. Maintains key vendor relationships and continually develops new resources.

Learning on the fly: Able to learn quickly and be open to change. Able to grasp the underlying issue and path to resolution, especially in problem solving. Able to develop their own resources.

Time management/priority: Uses time effectively and efficiently. Able to shift priorities as needed and manage multiple competing priorities at the same time. Can attend to a broad scope of activities.

Career ambition/Self-development: Strong knowledge of self. Able to articulate and utilize strengths, while creating a plan to develop areas of opportunity. Able to size up situations and flex personal style as needed.

Taste level: Knows how to buy for the customer. Maintains view of overall assortment and is able to quickly seize opportunities

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
BFA or BA in Fashion Merchandising, Business, or related field

Must have 3-5 years of experience in a buying capacity, overseeing both the creative and financial aspects of merchandising

Strong analytical skill set

Strong ability to influence

Entrepreneurial mindset and fast learner

Comfortable to work up to 4 days a week in our Brookfield Place (NYC) Offices

YOUR LIFE AND CAREER AT SAKS GLOBAL:
Opportunity to work in a dynamic fast paced environment at a company experiencing growth and transformation

Exposure to rewarding career advancement opportunities across the largest multi-brand luxury retailer from retail to distribution, to digital or corporate

Comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees (including medical, vision and dental)

An amazing employee discount

Benefits: We offer the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, and a variety of additional voluntary benefits (such as critical illness, hospital and accident insurance).

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Saks.com is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

• The above expected salary range may have some variability based upon factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s overall experience, qualifications, and geographic location. If you are interested in the role, we encourage you to apply and, if selected to move forward in the interview process, you will have a chance to speak with our recruitment team regarding your specific salary expectations.