Buyer III

Signet Jewelers Limited; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Signet Jewelers Limited is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic product categories and drive profitable assortments. You will own assortment planning, vendor negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration with marketing and sourcing to maximize sales and margins.

The role emphasizes leadership of a category management team, lifecycle management, and ongoing market trend analysis to keep inventories aligned with consumer demand.

Qualifications

• Experience managing merchandise categories in retail.
• Ability to develop assortments and pricing strategies.
• Strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic vision and manage designated product categories.
• Develop merchandise assortments, pricing, and promotions.
• Lead category management team and vendor partnerships.
• Collaborate with marketing, visual display, and sourcing.
• Oversee inventory planning and lifecycle management.

Skills

Category Management

Strategic Planning

Vendor Negotiation

Leadership

Merchandising

Job description

We have many opportunities available on our other career site pages. Signet Jewelers is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, operating more than 2,800 stores worldwide under the iconic brands: Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples, Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Rocksbox, JamesAllen.com and Diamonds Direct. We are a people-first company and this core value is at the heart of everything we do, from empowering our valued team members, to collaborating with our customers, to fostering the communities in which we live and serve. People – and the love their actions inspire – are what drive us. We’re not only proud of the love we inspire outside our walls, we’re especially proud of the diversity, inclusion and equity we’re inspiring inside. There are dynamic career paths awaiting you – rewarding opportunities to impact the lives of others and inspire love.

Job Profile Summary

The Sr. Buyer likely manages large product categories or multiple product categories and potentially has Buyers directly reporting to them. The responsibility of the Sr. buyer is to develop merchandise assortments and strategies to drive profitable category sales and productivity, while ensuring product value, quality, and styling. The buyer holds a leadership role within the category management team (CMT). Working within the CMT, the buyer is responsible for all aspects of assortment planning, selection, maintenance, and promotion, for designated product categories.

Category Management

• Set strategic vision for Category.
• Ability to adjust quickly, if needed, to changing market trends, conditions, priorities, and corporate strategies.
• Adjust strategy as needed based on weekly business review.
• Participate in the development of financial plans and advertising/marketing plans for designated product categories.
• As a CMT leader, present business reviews for all designated product categories to Leadership.
• Strategic handling of vendor base with ability to find and develop strong vendor partners.
• Regularly connects with Key Vendor Partners to strategize business.
• Oversee training and career development for Direct Reports / Team.
• Play key leadership role in broader team training and development.

Personal Career Development and Training

Product Development

• Develop, select, test, price and acquire quality merchandise consistent with consumer demand, and in keeping with strategic department goals and policies.
• Up-to-date knowledge of jewelry market trends and competitive strategies.
• Develop new product concepts/brands for test market(s), with potential for expanded store roll out.
• Drive Lifecycle Management process from idea inception through Clearance and end of life.
• Work with Inventory Analysts to ensure proper in-stock levels.

Assortment / Inventory Management

• Co-Manage and plan merchandising assortments for e-commerce/web sites.
• Manage negotiations relating to the return of discontinued product(s) to appropriate supplier.
• Negotiate annual purchasing agreement contracts with vendors.

Collaboration

• Coordinate efforts with the marketing, visual display and advertising departments to promote and market, key items, programs/brands and categories.
• Merchandise all marketing channel items for designated product categories.
• Present and justify all catalog/promotional items to merchandise directors and vice presidents.
• Partner with Sourcing on factory selection and cost negotiation.
• Partner with Financial Planning team on the open-to-buy for assigned product categories with CMT.
• Assist CMT with issues on vendor performance, including late orders and quality control issues.

Signet Jewelers is a people-first company. This core value is at the heart of everything we do, from empowering our valued team members, to collaborating with our customers, to fostering the communities in which we live and serve.

We're ONE Company, proud of our rich heritage, international presence, diversity, inclusion and equity we’re inspiring inside.

We are Great Place to Work-Certified operating under the iconic brands: Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared Jewelry, H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples, Banter by Piercing Pagoda and James Allen.