Assistant Buyer Development Program - 2027 Start Dates

Burlington Stores; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Associate discount

Health insurance options

401(k) matching

Job summary

Burlington Stores in California is launching an Assistant Buyer program to start a career in Buying. You will analyze merchandise needs, build vendor relationships, and help shape assortments aligned with our customers' values.

The role includes hands-on training, mentorship, market shadowing, and a hybrid work model with in-office, market visits, and remote days. Travel within California is required to support vendor appointments and store visits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Economics, or related fields.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel including pivot tables and VLOOKUP; basic knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Strong understanding of retail math.
• Data-driven problem-solver who can build partnerships and drive results.
• Willingness to travel within the California region.

Responsibilities

• Select and procure merchandise with Buyers to ensure customer-oriented, well-curated assortments.
• Provide operational support by analyzing performance and delivering insights on category trends.
• Participate in market visits and vendor appointments to select product and negotiate pricing.
• Contribute to growth through competitive shopping, trend monitoring, and market evaluation.
• Build strong vendor relationships and effectively communicate feedback to management.
• Manage large email streams and update buyers on vendor communications.
• Track receipts, flags delays, and negotiate late shipping discounts as needed.
• Manage purchase orders and routing guides to ensure timely delivery.
• Collaborate with multiple departments to execute buying assignments.

Skills

Attention to detail

Vendor negotiation

Data-driven problem solving

Travel willingness (CA region)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Economics, or related fields

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Overview

Starting a new career is a big deal, and at Burlington, we love big deals! If you enjoy identifying emerging trends, have strong attention to detail, and are interested in building a career in retail merchandising and buying, we encourage you to apply. You will analyze a business area and develop relationships with vendors to bring in the best products and values for our customers. Our Burlington In 1972, Burlington Stores operated as a family-owned coat business, and over the years, we expanded and transitioned to be one of today's leading off-price retailers, operating in clothing, baby items, home goods, and much more. Centered on five tenets, “Our Burlington” defines who we are as an employer, and what is important to us as a team, and it guides us toward becoming an even stronger competitor in the off-price channel. Additional information is available at: https://burlingtonstores.jobs/our-burlington/

Our Development Program

Our Assistant Buyer program opportunity is a starting point for a career journey in Buying and here is a peek at what you can expect:

• A hands-on training and onboarding program for your first weeks in which you will be placed in a business area to start applying your knowledge and skills.
• A mentor who will help guide and support you through training and beyond.
• Shadowing opportunities with various buying teams both in market and in the office
• A hybrid model that includes in-office, market/comp shopping and remote days. This schedule can be subject to change. (Relocation benefits are available for those who are eligible).
• Being a part of an onboarding class with peers who will be starting in the same role and start date as you.

Day in the Life

• Select and procure merchandise in conjunction with your Buyer in the assigned business area of responsibility to ensure that the final mix of products is ultimately customer oriented and curated to achieve a set profit plan.
• Provide operational support to the Buyer by independently managing business analysis and delivering insights on category performance.
• Participate in market visits/vendor appointments to select product assortments and negotiate pricing that resonate with customers and reflect strong value.
• Contribute to business growth by sharing well-informed perspectives based on competitive shopping, trend monitoring, and market performance evaluation.
• Build and nurture strong, positive 'win/win' relationships with vendors.
• Effectively influence to solve problems and follow up with orders.
• Manage a large magnitude of email streams across a diverse vendor database and in turn, be able to communicate and give updates to managers regarding vendor feedback.
• Maintain planned receipt flow on a consistent basis which consists of tracking when merchandise is being received and using judgment to make flow issue callouts to buyers when needed, ensuring adherence to scheduled shipping windows, and negotiating late shipping discounts.
• Consistently drive results by strategically managing the full cycle of merchandise for your business area which include entering, updating, managing, tracking, and organizing purchase orders to ensure timely delivery, communicating late deliveries to the Buying team, setting up new vendors with routing guides and pre-ticketing information.
• Collaborate for success; teamwork is key to success and you will work with several functional areas within the department for input, ideas, and to execute your assignments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Economics, or related fields.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel including pivot tables and VLOOKUP and basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs.
• Fundamental understanding of retail math.
• Data-driven problem-solver who can build and maintain productive partnerships by living our core values.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and quantify market trends.
• Ability to think critically with high attention to detail and listening, oral, and written communication skills.
• Affinity for retail math, product/merchandising, and building a career in Buying.
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs.
• Ability to negotiate with vendors to secure competitive pricing and strong value for customers.
• Demonstrates initiative, curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Ability to travel within the California region as needed for vendor appointments, trade shows, market visits, and competitive shopping activities.
• This role requires travel to Burlington offices, vendor appointments, market visits, and store locations throughout the region.
• Candidates must be able to meet the travel requirements of the position.

Compensation and Benefits

• An annual salary of $70,500 plus bonus with the eligibility for an annual performance-based merit increase.
• A benefits package with a generous PTO plan, a range of affordable health insurance options (medical, dental, vision), and a company-matched 401(k).
• Paid holidays and Early Release Fridays all year round.
• An associate discount for in-store purchases.
• Professional development opportunities for long-term career growth.
• Burlington’s benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage including life and disability insurance.
• Full-time associates are also eligible for paid time off, paid holidays and a 401(k) plan.
• Compensation Range: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00

Caring Company

At Burlington, we stand for equality and the dignity of each person. We embrace the many facets of diversity that strengthen our communities and our company. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and understanding. Through our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, our Council members share valuable insights and feedback, propose new initiatives, and serve as ambassadors to help amplify the impact and scope of our company’s DEI efforts.

Additional information is available at: https://www.burlington.com/about/id/

Burlington is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.

Individual pay decisions will be based on a variety of factors, such as but not limited to, qualifications, education, job-related skills, relevant experience, and geographic location.