Assistant Buyer, Cosmetics

Job Description Role Summary:
The Assistant Buyer is responsible for achieving sales and profit objectives for a specific merchandise category or categories, under the direction of the DMM/Buying Director. This responsibility includes the development and successful implementation of buying strategies, merchandise programs and marketing plans.
Essential Job Functions:

Help manage vendor and brand selection, develop strong vendor relationships, monitor industry trends, evaluate competition, and attend major markets and conduct competitive shops
Assist Buyer in developing the merchandising strategy, and assist with sales analysis in order to identify and react to trends in-season
Ensure timely delivery of merchandise through communication with vendors, distribution center, and merchant team.
Review and ensure vendor cost/retail/UPC submissions match the buy submission
Negotiate and guide execution of RTV’s
Effectively manage and monitor internet process including: content accuracy, overall productivity, analyzing and reacting to business needs, and communicating with e-commerce team
Work closely with buyer and advertising/marketing team to manage the advertising process including: determining advertised styles, prep sheets, coordinating sample collection, managing in-stocks on ad styles, approval process and recapping
Assist with line reviews/style outs for management
Provide product knowledge to store associates through product seminars and quarterly guidelines, participate in store visits, and respond promptly to store visit notes
Additional responsibilities as required

Qualifications

University or college degree or commensurate retail experience
Minimum 2 years’ experience in a merchandise capacity, and 2 years allocation experience.
Strong business and financial analysis skills.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Excellent computer skills including MS Word and Excel.
Willingness to travel as necessary.