Associate Buyer

Columbia Brands USA; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Sportswear Company seeks an Associate Buyer to partner with our DTC team on footwear and accessories assortments, balancing store needs with financial plans in a hybrid role based near Portland, Oregon.

You will support seasonal buys, manage in-season inventory, and collaborate across marketing, planning, allocation, and stores to optimize assortment performance and gross margin.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 2-4 years of professional experience.
• Excellent presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with team on product assortments including style selection and product flow aligned with financial plans.
• Develop and present assortments supporting in-stock positioning for key categories and ensure timely receipt flow.
• Collaborate on in-season business management including inventory management and price strategies to drive sales and margin.
• Work with cross-functional partners to maximize sales and ensure store execution.
• Partner with Planning on future sales trends and merchandise availability.
• Manage inventory levels through price optimization of markdowns and promotions.
• Coordinate with Allocation on on-time delivery and replenishment of products.
• Support cohesive product execution through marketing and visual merchandising.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Excel

Written communication

Verbal communication

Retail metrics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Illustrator

Job description

This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs. This in-office requirement may be adjusted at the discretion of the company.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The North America Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) team focuses on our outlet, brand, and employee stores within the US and Canada. From merchandising to retail marketing to retail operations, there is a highly collaborative team working "behind the scenes" to ensure our consumers have a positive experience in our stores.

The Associate Buyer is responsible for partnering with the team on seasonal buys and long-term strategies for Footwear and Accessories. This role assists with all facets of buying including the financial investments of each item, assortments by store, marketing, in-season price and inventory management, and the execution of product. They will partner cross-functionally and influence the development of optimal assortments to maximize sales and gross margin.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Partners with team members on product assortments including style selection and product flow ensuring synergy with financial plans.
• Develops and presents assortments supporting overall strategy of in-stock positioning for key merchandise categories, balanced presentations, and accurate and timely receipt flow.
• Partners with team members on in-season business management including inventory management and price strategies to increase sales and improve gross margin.
• Collaborates with cross-functional partners to maximize sales and ensure store execution.
• Partners with Planning team on future forecasts of sales trends, merchandise availability, and other changes in the business.
• Manages inventory levels through price optimization of markdowns and promotions.
• Partners with Allocation team on product execution ensuring timely delivery and replenishment of all products throughout the season to maximize sales.
• Partners to ensure cohesive execution of product through marketing and visual merchandising.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

YOU ARE

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Illustrator experience preferred
• Strong in written and verbal communication
• Familiar with retail industry and specific metrics used

YOU HAVE

• Bachelor's degree, applicable certification or equivalent experience
• 2-4 years of professional experience
• Excellent presentation skills

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.

Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.

At Columbia Sportswear Company, we're proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family's financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.