Strategic Merchandise Buyer & Inventory Planner

newbalance; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

401K plan

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan support

Lifestyle reimbursement

Paid vacation

Job summary

New Balance in Lawrence, MA seeks a Merchandise Buyer to drive category direction, assortment strategy and buy plans. You will integrate customer insights and competitive data to meet sales and margin targets while coordinating with planners, product teams, and operations for timely launches.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 1–3 years retail experience, strong Excel skills, and capability to forecast demand 6–24 months out. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1-3 years retail or related experience.
• Proficient with MS Office Suite and advanced Excel.
• Proficient use of retail merchandising and reporting system.
• Mastery of all components of retail math.
• Ability to think and plan strategically and make buying decisions 1-2 years in advance.
• Aptitude to analyze discrete data to identify trends, issues and opportunities.
• Effective communication skills at multiple levels within the organization including senior management.

Responsibilities

• Execute bottoms up planning by category, assortment and buy plans to achieve financial plans that will meet/exceed sales & margin goals.
• Partner with Merchandise Planner to complete open-to-buy forecasts and action steps.
• Ensure the merchandise selection aligns with customer needs, orientation and satisfaction.
• Share customer and competitive landscape with cross-functional partners; stay current on fashion trends.
• Partner with Product Merchandising and product teams to develop a category profile and strategy that achieve the product needs.
• Utilizing analysis, forecast and develop demand plans for 6-24 months out.
• Integrate strategies, profiles and consumer insights from Category Planning into development of a seasonal Assortment Plan.
• Responsible for product selection and creation of purchase orders/contracts focusing on order accuracy, documentation, and shipping within timelines of order due dates.
• Conduct timely follow ups on purchase orders, delivery schedules on a continual basis.
• Maintain inventory position to assure optimum turns by consistently monitoring sales to assure prompt inventory action and accurate forecasts of inventory, adjusting orders & min/max as needed.
• Maintain excellent partnerships with external vendors and internal cross functional teams.
• Keep informed of pending price increases, new products, cancelled products, and products that will become obsolete, taking the appropriate actions necessary to optimize opportunities and minimize inventory risks.
• Review and maintain demand forecasts, product performance, inventory reports, and other investment tools to maintain proper inventories.
• Collaborate with Merchandise Planner on Buy Planning (OTB).
• Promote positive team environment within the Merchant Team.
• Identify strengths and improve performance by supporting multi-skill development.
• Partner with Marketing Team on seasonal Calendars ensuring key drivers, promotions, big ideas and new launches align.
• Develop business relationships with key internal Operations Team (Warehouse, Customer Care, IT, etc.).
• Collaborate with Digital Site team to confirm timely optimization to site; new product being turned on and discontinued product turned off site. (Ecomm Specific)
• Collaborate with Store Operations team on new product launches, store executions, promotions, inventory needs. (Store Specific)

Skills

MS Office Suite

Advanced Excel

Retail merchandising system

Retail math

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

Retail merchandising system

Job description

New Balance in Lawrence, MA seeks a Merchandise Buyer to drive category direction, assortment strategy and buy plans. You will integrate customer insights and competitive data to meet sales and margin targets while coordinating with planners, product teams, and operations for timely launches.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 1–3 years retail experience, strong Excel skills, and capability to forecast demand 6–24 months out. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits are offered.