Associate Buyer, Beauty

The PCA Companies; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

BeautySpace is seeking an enthusiastic Associate Buyer to manage brand and product assortment for retail partners. You will work closely with the Head Buyer, analyze sales performance, and help drive profitable growth across beauty categories.

The role combines beauty, merchandising, analytics, and brand management, offering a path to advance in a dynamic retail environment in New York. Hybrid in-office schedule supports collaboration and focused work.

Qualifications

• Approximately 3+ years of experience in Buying, Merchandising, Planning, or a related retail function.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head Buyer to develop and manage a compelling product assortment across BeautySpace retail partners.
• Monitor the beauty marketplace to identify emerging brands, products, categories, and consumer trends.
• Build relationships with brand, retail, and internal partners through regular communication and monthly business check-ins.
• Support the Head Buyer in conducting regular brand performance and business review meetings.
• Assist with the development of market presentations and assortment decks for retail partners.
• Coordinate retailer documentation, including new item forms, line sheets, UPC information, product setup, and price changes.
• Create and maintain the internal new product workbook, ensuring information is communicated accurately across cross-functional teams.
• Partner with Assistant Planners and brand partners on returns-to-vendor (RTVs), markdowns, chargebacks, and other inventory initiatives.
• Ensure buying and merchandising deliverables meet established go-to-market timelines and launch deadlines.
• Work cross-functionally with Planning, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Sales, and other departments to support successful product launches and retail execution.

Skills

Buying

Merchandising

Planning

Retail

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

NAV

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Qlik

Job description

Associate Buyer – BeautySpace
Location: 8 E. 41st Street, New York, NY 10017
Schedule: Hybrid | In Office Tuesday–Thursday
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $75,000–$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience

The Opportunity

BeautySpace is looking for an enthusiastic, commercially minded Associate Buyer who has a passion for beauty, an eye for emerging trends, and the analytical skills to understand what drives a successful assortment.

Working closely with the Head Buyer, the Associate Buyer will help build, manage, and analyze BeautySpace's brand and product assortment across our retail partnerships. This role sits at the intersection of beauty, merchandising, analytics, brand management, and retail, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to grow their buying career within the beauty industry.

The ideal candidate is naturally curious about products and trends but also understands that successful buying goes beyond identifying great brands. You will help evaluate sales performance, inventory productivity, pricing, markdowns, assortment strategy, retailer requirements, and overall business performance to support profitable growth.

If you love discovering what's next in beauty while also digging into the numbers behind what is selling—and why we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

Buying, Brands & Assortment

Partner with the Head Buyer to help develop and manage a compelling, commercially successful product assortment across BeautySpace retail partners.

• Help evaluate and make informed decisions around brands, products, and assortment opportunities.
• Monitor the beauty marketplace to identify emerging brands, products, categories, and consumer trends.
• Build strong relationships with brand, retail, and internal partners through regular communication and monthly business check-ins.
• Support the Head Buyer in conducting regular brand performance and business review meetings.
• Assist with the development of market presentations and assortment decks for retail partners.
• Coordinate retailer documentation, including new item forms, line sheets, UPC information, product setup, and price changes.
• Create and maintain the internal new product workbook, ensuring information is communicated accurately across cross-functional teams.
• Partner with Assistant Planners and brand partners on returns-to-vendor (RTVs), markdowns, chargebacks, and other inventory initiatives.
• Ensure buying and merchandising deliverables meet established go-to-market timelines and launch deadlines.
• Work cross-functionally with Planning, Operations, Marketing, Finance, Sales, and other departments to support successful product launches and retail execution.

Business Analysis & Performance

A major part of this role is understanding the business behind the assortment.

• Preparing and analyzing weekly sales and performance reports.
• Tracking selling trends to identify opportunities, risks, and potential inventory liabilities.
• Helping evaluate sell-through, product productivity, inventory levels, pricing, markdown activity, and overall category performance.
• Supporting analysis of class and category performance, planned penetration, and average retail by class.
• Identifying business improvement and commercial opportunities across brands, categories, and retail partners.
• Assisting with quarterly shelf productivity and assortment planning analysis.Translating data into actionable recommendations that support continued sales growth and profitability.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines a genuine enthusiasm for beauty with strong commercial instincts.

Experience & Qualifications

• Approximately 3+ years of experience in Buying, Merchandising, Planning, or a related retail function.
• Beauty, cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, wellness, or related industry experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of beauty or cosmetics experience required.
• Retail or sales experience preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with systems such as NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, and Qlik is a plus.

What Will Make You Successful

• A genuine passion for the beauty industry, brands, products, and emerging trends.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with sales, inventory, pricing, and performance data.
• Commercial curiosity—you want to understand not only what is selling, but why.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with the confidence to identify opportunities and pursue them.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop productive relationships with brands, retailers, and internal partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• A sense of urgency and ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment.
• An openness to feedback, change, new ideas, and new ways of working.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to jump in wherever needed to help the team succeed.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office environment and requires regular interaction with internal departments, brand partners, and retail partners.

The position may occasionally require attention to workplace safety, environmental, or health considerations depending on the nature of the work being performed.

Physical Requirements

While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee must be able to perform typical office-related activities, including sitting or standing for periods of time, using a computer, communicating verbally and in writing, and reviewing and accurately completing business documentation.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this exempt position is:

$75,000–$85,000 annually

Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, industry knowledge, and overall alignment with the responsibilities of the position.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Equal Opportunity

BeautySpace and The PCA Group of Companies are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are respected and valued.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams, our brands, and our ability to serve the communities and consumers we support.