Museum Store Buyer Manager, Carnegie Science Center

Carnegie Science Center; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Carnegie Science Center seeks a Museum Store Buyer Manager to enhance visitor experience and drive revenue with engaging product selections and superior customer service. This role involves managing staff, analyzing trends, and ensuring the store's mission aligns with organizational goals, providing an exciting opportunity in a cultural setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a retail buyer or similar role.
• Minimum two years’ managerial experience in retail or museum store.
• Knowledge of market research and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead store's mission ensuring engaging product offerings.
• Identify customer preferences for buying decisions.
• Oversee merchandise placement and manage store staff.

Skills

Customer service

Problem-solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or relevant field

Tools

MS Office

POS system

Job description

Museum Store Buyer Manager

Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Req #1588 Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Join the Carnegie Science Center, where we connect people with science through immersive experiences, exhibits, and outreach initiatives. We are seeking a Museum Store Buyer Manager to lead the store’s mission of enhancing visitor experience and generating revenue through engaging product offerings and excellent customer service.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead the execution of the store’s mission, ensuring engaging product offerings and excellent customer service.
2. Identify customer preferences and forecast consumer trends to inform buying decisions.
3. Analyze sales and market trends to optimize product selection and inventory.
4. Discover and purchase new products; evaluate quality and popularity of existing stock.
5. Negotiate with suppliers for competitive pricing, quality, and terms.
6. Oversee merchandise placement, displays, and visual merchandising.
7. Manage store staff, including hiring, training, supervising, and coaching.
8. Achieve financial goals by driving sales, controlling budgets, and maintaining inventory control.
9. Stay informed on industry trends through trade shows, workshops, and networking.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a retail buyer or similar role.
• Bachelor’s degree required; in Business Administration or relevant field preferred.
• Minimum two years’ managerial experience, preferably in a high-volume retail or museum store setting.
• Knowledge of market research, data analysis, and forecasting techniques.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience in personnel management, merchandising, and inventory control.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Success in maximizing profit while providing outstanding service.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with management, donors, and customers.
• Organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, think creatively, and handle multiple tasks.
• Flexible schedule, including some holidays, weekends, and evenings.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift up to 30 pounds, climb ladders, stoop, bend, work in confined spaces, and stand for long periods.

Employment Training:

Three months

Principal Accountabilities:

1. Supervise store staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
2. Research, select, and purchase products aligning with museum collections and exhibitions.
3. Manage merchandise placement, visual displays, and online product listings.
4. Oversee inventory control, receiving, and online order fulfillment processes.
5. Analyze sales data to maximize ROI.
6. Develop branded products related to collections and exhibitions.
7. Coordinate with museum staff for product development and marketing.
8. Organize and manage special product-related events.
9. Ensure cash handling, POS system maintenance, and conduct physical inventories.
10. Oversee ecommerce sales, fulfillment, and customer service.
11. Travel to trade shows, fairs, and conferences as required.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.

Note: The position requires PA Act 153 clearances, obtained during onboarding.

Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description reflects essential functions and qualifications but is not exhaustive of all responsibilities. It does not constitute a contract and is at-will employment.