Associate Buyer

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous discount on all WSI brands

401(k) plan and investment opportunities

Paid vacations and holidays

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Tax-free commuter benefits

Wellness program

Job summary

A prominent retail company in Portland is seeking an experienced Associate Buyer to develop business strategies and seasonal assortment plans. The ideal candidate will coordinate cross-functional information to maximize brand development and profits. Responsibilities include analyzing trends, presenting product vision to leadership, and collaborating with teams. A BA/BS degree and 3+ years in corporate merchandising are required, along with advanced Excel skills. This role fosters creativity and analytical decision-making within a supportive culture.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in corporate merchandising.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, often changing environment.
• Strong decision-making skills with good judgement.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Ability to work autonomously, strong judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work in a fast pace, often changing environment.
• Advanced MS Excel skills; pivot tables, VLOOKUPs.
• This role requires onsite in the office Monday through Thursday with Friday optional.
• Occasional travel within the Bay Area for photo shoots and floor sets.

Responsibilities

• Develop business strategies and seasonal assortment plans.
• Analyze emerging trends and develop business strategies.
• Coordinate information across functions with various teams.
• Participate in the development of the annual and seasonal financial plans.
• Provide SKU information to Merchandising Operations for input.
• Coordinate information across Design, Inventory Management, Sourcing, Production, Packaging and Visual to ensure process is followed and timelines met.
• Present product vision and category performance to leadership.
• Correspond with functional areas; resolve, handle, and escalate issues to Director/Buyer, Call Center and Stores.

Skills

Advanced retail math skills

Strong presentation skills

Strong leadership skills

Ability to work autonomously

Strong written and verbal communication

Advanced MS Excel skills

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About the Team

You will be part of a collaborative team responsible for creating assortment strategies based on analyzing sales and trend. Our job blends creativity, analytics, and marketing.

About the Role

The Associate Buyer will develop business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of the brand, sales and profits for the department. You will be responsible for coordinating information across functions working closely with Design, Inventory Management, Sourcing, Production, Packaging and Visual to ensure the process is followed and timelines met. You will have the opportunity to participate in design meetings while identifying opportunities and recommend new product or concepts for the department.

Responsibilities

• Develop business strategies and seasonal assortment plans to maximize the development of the brand, sales and profits for the department
• Own final assortment plans (line lists), product details, target retails, estimated IMU, importance to overall assortment (big bets) and floor plan location for developing purchase projections and buy plans.
• Identify emerging trends and develop business strategies outlining strengths, weaknesses, new opportunities and threats. Obtain feedback from stores to improve product and add to collections
• Participate in the development of the annual and seasonal financial plans
• Provide SKU information to Merchandising Operations for input
• Responsible for coordinating information across functions working closely with Design, Inventory Management, Sourcing, Production, Packaging and Visual to ensure the process is followed and timelines met
• Present product vision and category performance to members of our leadership team
• Correspond with functional areas. Resolves, handles, and escalates difficult issues to Director/Buyer, Call Center and Stores

Criteria

• BA/BS degree required
• 3+ years in corporate merchandising
• Advanced retail math skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to work autonomously, strong decision-making skills with good judgement
• Strong written and verbal communication to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Ability to work in a fast pace, often changing environment
• Advanced MS Excel skills; required to create pivot tables, advanced formulas, and functions such as VLOOKUPS
• This role requires being onsite in the (provide office location) office Monday through Thursday and Friday as optional in the office
• Occasional travel may be required within the bay area for photo shoots and floor sets.

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.