Liquidation/Close-out Buyer

JRoss Recruiters; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Category Manager for Liquidation in Toronto, Ontario. The role requires developing strategies for liquidation products and involves negotiating with suppliers to secure competitive pricing. Ideal candidates should possess at least 5 years of experience in category management within retail environments, strong analytical and organizational skills, and a Bachelor’s degree in business or supply chain. Competitive salary and performance-based incentives are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary based on experience

Performance-based incentives

Opportunities for career advancement

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in wholesale or category management in retail environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis skills.
• Certifications in purchasing or supply chain management are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute liquidation strategies for various product categories.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure pricing and terms.
• Monitor inventory levels and optimize sell-through rates.
• Analyze market trends to refine purchasing strategies.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Data analysis

Organizational skills

Supplier relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

• Develop & Execute Liquidation Strategies: Lead category strategy development for liquidation and closeout products, including sourcing and managing bulk quantities of liquidation stock across general merchandise, seasonal, and opportunistic categories. Categories include household items, apparel, consumer electronics, footwear, and more.
• Lead Bulk Purchasing: Negotiate with suppliers to secure competitive pricing, volume discounts, and favorable terms, while ensuring strong margins and cost efficiency.
• Build Category Management Processes: Create and implement scalable buying and inventory processes to meet the demands of a high-volume, fast-moving warehouse retail environment.
• Trend Analysis & Insights: Analyze market trends, customer preferences, and competitor offerings to identify key opportunities for liquidation product assortment and category performance.
• Inventory Management: Monitor stock levels, guide replenishment, and optimize sell-through to maintain strong availability while controlling costs.
• Supplier Performance: Evaluate supplier reliability, product quality, and consistency to ensure high standards are met.
• Data-Driven Forecasting: Use sales data, margin analysis, and other performance metrics to forecast demand, refine purchasing strategies, and ensure inventory is aligned with customer needs.
• Category Profitability: Manage category budgets, with a strong focus on delivering profitability, margin targets, and efficient inventory turnover.
• Merchandising & Space Optimization: Apply best practices in product display, presentation, and space utilization to maximize sales and customer engagement in a warehouse setting.
• KPI Management: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to category sales, vendor performance, and purchasing efficiency to measure success.

Requirements

• Experience: 5 years of experience in wholesale, liquidation purchasing, or category management within high-volume retail environments (general merchandise, seasonal, apparel, consumer electronics, etc.).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, commerce, or a related field.
• Negotiation & Vendor Relations: Strong negotiation skills and a proven track record in supplier relationship management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong data analysis and decision-making capabilities, with advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with procurement or inventory management systems.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Experience in entrepreneurial or start-up retail settings is a significant advantage, as you’ll be building the category from the ground up.
• Organizational Skills: Highly organized, capable of managing multiple product categories in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Professional Certifications: Certifications in purchasing, supply chain management, or category management are a plus.

Corporate Culture

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Performance-based incentives
• Opportunities for career advancement as the retail concept grows