Interim Buyer

Princeton University Retail; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Princeton University Retail seeks an experienced merchandising professional to support its Brands business across stores, ecommerce, and pop-up retail, handling licensed and nonlicensed merchandise.

The temporary assignment focuses on maintaining product availability, managing inventory and receiving, and advancing existing programs in collaboration with the CEO and team, requiring quick prioritization and strong vendor coordination.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail merchandising, buying, or merchandise planning.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, NetSuite, and Shopify.
• Experience with apparel, accessories, gifts, or related specialty retail categories; licensed merchandise experience.
• Ability to become productive quickly, manage competing priorities, and complete detailed work accurately.
• Clear communication, practical judgment, and a collaborative approach in a small team.

Responsibilities

• Manage inventory and replenishment. Review selling and stock positions, identify replenishment needs, and recommend timely action on shortages and slowmoving merchandise.
• Maintain purchasing and receipt discipline. Review open orders, purchase commitments, and delivery schedules. Coordinate with Finance and Operations to align receipts with opentobuy, business needs, and available capacity.
• Turn analysis into action. Evaluate merchandise performance across products, price points, locations, and channels. Recommend replenishment, transfers, order adjustments, and markdowns to improve sales and inventory productivity.
• Advance vendor and product followup. Keep approved product development, samples, submissions, orders, and deliveries moving. Resolve discrepancies and communicate any risks or decisions that require attention.
• Support coordinated execution. Work with Brands, Ecommerce, Marketing, and Operations to prepare merchandise for launches, events, and ongoing selling. Maintain clear priorities and dependable followthrough across concurrent assignments.

Skills

Merchandising

Inventory management

Vendor management

Data analysis

Communication

Tools

Excel

NetSuite

Shopify

Job description

Temporary Merchandising Manager, Brands

Reports to: CEO and President

Assignment: Interim support during recruitment for the Director, Brands

The Opportunity

We seek an experienced merchandising professional to support our Brands business across stores, ecommerce, and pop-up retail. The portfolio includes licensed Princeton apparel, accessories, gifts, and complementary nonlicensed merchandise.

This temporary assignment requires someone who can quickly assess priorities, work confidently with merchandise data, and follow through with vendors and colleagues. The immediate focus is maintaining product availability, managing inventory and receipt flow, and advancing existing merchandise programs in collaboration with the CEO and team.

Principal Responsibilities

• Manage inventory and replenishment. Review selling and stock positions, identify replenishment needs, and recommend timely action on shortages and slowmoving merchandise.
• Maintain purchasing and receipt discipline. Review open orders, purchase commitments, and delivery schedules. Coordinate with Finance and Operations to align receipts with opentobuy, business needs, and available capacity.
• Turn analysis into action. Evaluate merchandise performance across products, price points, locations, and channels. Recommend replenishment, transfers, order adjustments, and markdowns to improve sales and inventory productivity.
• Advance vendor and product followup. Keep approved product development, samples, submissions, orders, and deliveries moving. Resolve discrepancies and communicate any risks or decisions that require attention.
• Support coordinated execution. Work with Brands, Ecommerce, Marketing, and Operations to prepare merchandise for launches, events, and ongoing selling. Maintain clear priorities and dependable followthrough across concurrent assignments.

Experience and Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in retail merchandising, buying, or merchandise planning, with direct responsibility for inventory, replenishment, and vendor management.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel, NetSuite, and Shopify are required.
• Experience with apparel, accessories, gifts, or related specialty retail categories; licensed merchandise experience is required.
• Ability to become productive quickly, manage competing priorities, and complete detailed work accurately.
• Clear communication, practical judgment, and a collaborative approach to working within a small team.

Assignment Details

Start as soon as available. Assignment duration, weekly hours, compensation, and required on-site schedule will be established before engagement.