Strategic Buyer & Category Leader

Whalen Search Group; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Whalen Search Group is seeking a talented purchasing/merchandising professional to drive vendor relationships and category performance. You will analyze assortments, optimize pricing and product mix, and collaborate on go-to-market strategies for new and existing SKUs.

The ideal candidate has 2–5+ years in buying, merchandising, or consumer products, strong Excel and financial skills, and a data-driven, entrepreneurial mindset. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Qualifications

• 2–5+ years of experience in buying, merchandising, category management, or consumer products.
• Strong vendor negotiation and relationship-management experience.
• Strong Excel, retail math, OTB, margin analysis, and financial skills.
• Hardlines/general merchandise experience strongly preferred.
• Strong product instincts and an analytical, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

• Managing and developing vendor relationships, including pricing, negotiations, and new supplier identification.
• Analyzing assortments and making recommendations around new items, discontinuations, pricing, and product mix.
• Monitoring sales, inventory, margins, sell-through, and overall category performance.
• Partnering cross-functionally on new product development, packaging, and go-to-market strategy.
• Identifying market and consumer trends and translating them into commercial product opportunities.
• Supporting category strategy and presenting recommendations to senior leadership

Skills

Vendor negotiation

Relationship management

Retail math

Financial analysis

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Excel

Job description

Whalen Search Group is seeking a talented purchasing/merchandising professional to drive vendor relationships and category performance. You will analyze assortments, optimize pricing and product mix, and collaborate on go-to-market strategies for new and existing SKUs.

The ideal candidate has 2–5+ years in buying, merchandising, or consumer products, strong Excel and financial skills, and a data-driven, entrepreneurial mindset. Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.