Category Merchandising 1 / Buying Assistant

Our client, a leading athletic footwear and apparel manufacturing company, is looking for a Category Merchandising 1 / Buying Assistant. This is for an initial duration of 06 months and is located at Beaverton, OR.

Job Title: Category Merchandising 1 / Buying Assistant

Reference ID: 26-03612

Location: Beaverton, OR.

Duration: 06 months

Job Type: Contract (Candidates must be able to work on W2 without VISA sponsorship)

General Information:

• Location and/or time zone: Onsite at PHK (Fridays WFH)
• Reason for opening: Project Support
• Expected contract length: 27 W, 2 D
• Team details & who they will work with: ETW will report to the Footwear Merchandising Director

Desired Candidate Profile:

• Minimum required years of experience: 1-2 years' experience in footwear or apparel buying and/or merchandising, product creation and/or retail in a vertical, multi-brand or digital environment
• Education requirements: Bachelor's degree highly preferred

Must have skills:

• Strong affinity for current market trends and how Client apparel can continue to be a style leader in the marketplace
• Footwear, Apparel, Equipment or relevant consumer product buying and/or merchandising experience
• Understanding of common retail and/or digital profit-based metrics such as sell-through, turn, ASP, UPT and others
• Please note: We are not looking for visual merchandising but buying specifically in retail or in merchandising

Soft skills:

• Team player
• Adaptability

Software/technical requirements:

• Advanced background in excel
• Basic Microsoft

Buying Assistant - Women's Footwear, Client Factory Stores

• For Client merchants, everything begins and ends with the consumer! We are looking for a consumerist with an affinity for product who enjoys the energy of moving at the pace of retail and our consumer.
• A successful Merchant will contribute to an inclusive, positive, and progressive team dynamic. At Client, it's about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

Who You'll Work With

• This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams within Client Factory Stores; in Planning, Allocation, and Lead Buying Associates.
• They will also intersect with Operations; relying on business reporting which includes quantitative and qualitative metrics on sales, inventory and consumer behaviors to inform tactical actions to drive the business.
• You will report to the Footwear Merchandising Director.

Who We Are Looking For

• We are looking for consumerists with an affinity for product that thrive in moving at the pace of the consumer and ever-changing landscape of retail. A successful Buying Assistant will contribute to a positive and progressive team dynamic, as well as partner in a way that elevates the overall team.
• This role supports the execution of strategic merchandising priorities and in-season business needs to serve end in mind retail for the Client Factory Store business. They will use historical data, analytics and Lead/Senior Buyers direction and feedback to action against future and current business trends. You'll develop expertise across key merchandising programs.

The candidate should possess proven retail competence and analytical abilities, understand retail environment, and bring a consumer-centric perspective to the team and business.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education, experience and training
• 1-2 years' experience in footwear or apparel buying and/or merchandising, product creation and/or retail in a vertical, multi-brand or digital environment
• Strong affinity for current market trends and how Client apparel can continue to be a style leader in the marketplace
• Footwear, Apparel, Equipment or relevant consumer product buying and/or merchandising experience
• Understanding of common retail and/or digital profit-based metrics such as sell-through, turn, ASP, UPT and others
• Ability to contribute to and drive strategy into action
• Ability to travel up to 20%

What You'll Work On

• You will own translating strategic intent into action against future and current in-season assortments. You will understand related aspects of the business and marketplace in making your plans, including coordinating between genders, brands (Client, Jordan, and External Partners) and how individual products or collections impact each other. You will collaborate cross functionally to ensure actions taken are driving consumer demand and in alignment with the overarching Client, Inc. strategy.
• You will become an expert within multiple systems as a critical action point to management of a healthy, brand enhancing, revenue driving portfolio. You will participate in seasonal assortment and buy reviews each quarter, as well as in-season trading to influence actions and optimize growth with your partners.

Interested and Qualified candidates, please send your most recently updated word document resume to Jaffer.s@sunrisesys.com.