Associate Buyer - Travel & Backpacks

1114 Target Enterprise Inc; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Target is seeking an Associate Buyer in Minneapolis to manage a wide SKU mix and partner with vendors and cross-functional teams. You will help determine localization, pricing, and market positioning while acting as a brand manager for your category.

You will execute ad plans, analyze trends, and support product development with the Buyer, delivering insights to maximize sales and margin in a dynamic retail environment.

Qualifications

• A four-year degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong financial, strategic and planning skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
• High-performance mindset with initiative and leadership.
• Flexibility in dynamic environments; comfortable with change.
• 1+ years merchandising experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute advertising plans and strategies for your category via item selection, space allocation and pricing.
• Forecast ad volume, monitor productivity and analyze category metrics.
• Coordinate end-to-end promotional activities for the Buyer to review.
• Support item descriptions and markdown updates in the system.
• Generate weekly and monthly category reports and insights.

Skills

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Entrepreneurial mindset

Leadership

Merchandising experience

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Education

Four-year degree or equivalent

Job description

Pay

$58,100.00 - $104,600.00 Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves.Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation.Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.

About us

Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.

Role description

A role in Buying means working with several diverse vendors to choose the best product mix, both in-store and online. We help determine where to localize, while calibrating market positioning and acting as brand managers. Here, you’ll own a wide SKU count so that your work is varied and challenging. Through cross-functional collaboration, instinct and creativity, you will be the expert on the guest, the market and the competition.

As an Associate Buyer, you’ll execute advertising plans and strategies for your category via ad item selection, space allocation planning, pricing, ad volume forecasting and productivity analysis. You’ll watch market trends, evaluate competitors, plan assortments and coordinate end-to-end promotional activities for the Buyer to review. In addition, you’ll help Buyers with system input of item descriptions and markdown updates, and you’ll generate reports to analyze weekly and monthly category metrics. In partnership with product design and sourcing, you will support the Buyer in guiding product development and executing the financial plan for your categories. Aligning with cross-functional partners, you will manage communication with vendors to maximize sales and profit. Your unique strategic perspective will be integral to Buyers selecting items and assortments. Core responsibilities are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

About you

• A four-year degree or equivalent experience
• Strong financial, strategic and planning skills
• Entrepreneurial spirit with strong analytical, decision‑making, and organization skills
• A performance‑driven individual who demonstrates strong initiative and has superior leadership skills
• Flexibility and resiliency; comfortable working in “grey areas” that are constantly changing
• Comfortable taking risks, working through change and supporting creative chances
• 1+ years merchandising experience preferred

Work arrangement

This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Accommodations

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to [e-mail]. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow‑ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.

Application deadline

Application deadline is : 10/01/2026

Company culture

Target is one of the world’s most recognized brands and one of America’s leading retailers. We make Target our guests’ preferred shopping destination by offering outstanding value, inspiration, innovation and an exceptional guest experience that no other retailer can deliver. Target is committed to responsible corporate citizenship, ethical business practices, environmental stewardship and generous community support. Since 1946, we have given 5 percent of our profits back to our communities. Our goal is to work as one team to fulfill our unique brand promise to our guests, wherever and whenever they choose to shop.

Benefits

Our Benefits We care about and invest in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.