ASSOCIATE BUYER - KIDS SHOES

Are you passionate about driving strategic merchandise planning and making a real impact in supporting the Navy community? Join NEXCOM’s dynamic team and play a key role in shaping exciting product assortments and promotional campaigns that keep our customers coming back. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy collaborating with buyers and planners to meet sales and profitability goals, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Job Summary:

Assists the Buyers responsible for the development and execution of all merchandise stock assortments and promotional plans for assigned departments. Has limited Open-to-buy authority. Works closely with Buyer and Planner Distributor to plan and execute sales gross profit and stock turn plans.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works under the supervision of a Buyer who retains overall responsibility for managing merchandise categories lines assigned.
• The Associate Buyer performs the following duties within limits established by the Buyer.
• Work is reviewed at key points within the buying planning process to ensure work meets established objectives.
• Analyzes market trends and offerings to develop and execute merchandise stock assortments business strategies and goals for assigned merchandise lines departments.
• Negotiates with vendors within established limits to obtain most favorable prices and allowances to achieve sales and profit objectives for basic and advertised merchandise.
• Where required works with vendors to ensure that all vendors in store sales staff is trained meets all NEX standards and are scheduled all necessary and negotiated hours of staffing.
• Responsible for the development execution and maintenance of the Master Stock Assortments MSA.
• Works with other codes to develop space allocation adjacencies and planograms for store sets and renovations.
• Develops and executes advertising plan for assigned departments.
• Oversees order placement and tracking to ensure timely receipt of merchandise.
• Works with buyer to prepare information tools training materials and training seminars for store associates.
• Works closely with Planner Distributor to plan sales gross profit and stock turn both annually and seasonally.
• Works closely with Planner Distributor to determine and execute automated methods of replenishment.
• May be assigned responsibility the supervision and development of a subordinate staff consisting of Assistant Buyers Merchandisers Pricing Specialists as appropriate.
• Conducts store visits as appropriate to evaluate merchandise presentation customer demographics stock assortments and inventory levels. Works closely with store management to address and maximize business opportunities.
• Attends trade shows and markets as appropriate.
• Works with Planner Distributor to determine optimal order size inventory levels and allocations needed to achieve merchandising and financial goals.
• Analyzes financial performance using tools such as but not limited to Data Warehouse and Category Scorecard to ensure established goals are being met and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary.
• Prepares merchandise information manuals monthly information bulletins and associate training seminars as appropriate.
• Maintain collaborative partnerships with vendors and internal and external colleagues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Works under the close supervision of a Buyer.
• Operates independently within the authority delegated by the Buyer.
• Performance is evaluated on operational performance skill evaluations customer service collaboration and teamwork leadership and established individual performance objectives.
• Exercises independent judgment and approval in routine and non-routine situations.
• Consults with supervisor on such issues as policy matters deviations from normal procedures or unusual circumstances.
• The incumbent of this position must file a Financial Disclosure Report OGE Form 450 as required

A Total of 5 years of experience consisting of the following:

General Experience:

3 years experience which was gained in professional, technical or other responsible work which enabled the applicant to gain a knowledge of retail practices; demonstrated skill in dealing with others in person-to-person work relationships; the ability to analyze problems and exercise mature judgment.

OR Substitution of education:

Substitution of education for experience: 1 year of academic study above the high school level may be substituted for 9 months of experience, up to a maximum of a 4 years bachelor's degree for 3 years of general experience.

AND Specialized Experience:

2 years of progressively responsible substantive experience which provided background in:

• Procurement practices, methods and procedures
• Developing and maintaining open to buy
• Selecting sources of supply
• Planning stock assortments
• Review of merchandise for pricing markdowns and stock rotation
• Planning and developing sales promotions