Associate Buyer

iRiS Recruiting Solutions; Texas; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

iRiS Recruiting Solutions is seeking an experienced Associate Buyer to lead hardlines merchandising for a growing national outdoor retailer. You will own category strategy, drive sales and margins, manage inventory, and shape the product assortment across high-SKU categories.

In this role you’ll build vendor partnerships, negotiate for profitable growth, spot market trends, and mentor junior buyers while collaborating with Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, eCommerce, Sourcing, and Supply

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of buying or category management experience in hardlines within outdoor, hunting, camping, sporting goods, or recreational products industry.
• Experience managing large, high-SKU product categories.
• Strong analytical, planning, and negotiation skills.
• Leadership experience with a passion for coaching and developing others.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Own hardlines category strategy, including sales, margin, inventory, and assortment planning
• Build strategic vendor partnerships and negotiate for profitable growth
• Identify market trends and bring innovative products to market
• Partner with Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, eCommerce, Sourcing, and Supply Chain
• Lead and develop the executive training team while mentoring junior buyers
• Use customer insights and analytics to drive merchandising decisions

Skills

Analytical skills

Planning

Negotiation

Leadership

Mentoring

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Lead a category. Shape the strategy. Influence the future of outdoor retail.

If you're an experienced Associate Buyer with a background in hardlines merchandising and a passion for the outdoors, this is your opportunity to lead high-impact categories and influence the future of a growing national retailer.

This role goes beyond buying - you'll own category strategy, drive business performance, and help develop the next generation of merchandising leaders.

What You'll Do

• Own hardlines category strategy, including sales, margin, inventory, and assortment planning
• Build strategic vendor partnerships and negotiate for profitable growth
• Identify market trends and bring innovative products to market
• Partner with Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, eCommerce, Sourcing, and Supply Chain
• Lead and develop the executive training team while mentoring junior buyers
• Use customer insights and analytics to drive merchandising decisions

What You Bring

• 3-5 years of buying or category management experience in hardlines within the outdoor, hunting, camping, sporting goods, or recreational products industry
• Experience managing large, high-SKU product categories
• Strong analytical, planning, and negotiation skills
• Leadership experience with a passion for coaching and developing others
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
• Willingness to travel as business needs require