Strategic Purchaser

Joseph Michaels International; Lakewood Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Joseph Michaels International is seeking a smart, market-driven Strategic Purchaser to manage and grow our e-commerce and dropship purchasing program. This role goes beyond simple reorders, demanding market insight, strong supplier relationships, and ownership of purchases from start to finish.

Stay ahead of pricing and trends, decide when to buy or pass, and optimize stock with cross-functional collaboration. Experience in product trading or retail arbitrage in e-commerce is a plus.

Qualifications

• Strong market instincts and ability to identify deals.
• Ability to act quickly and take responsibility for results.
• Strong supplier relationships and understanding of margins and cash flow.
• Organized, analytical, and able to communicate purchasing decisions clearly.
• Collaborative mindset to scale the purchasing operation.
• Experience in product trading or e-commerce sourcing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Stay on top of market pricing, product trends, promotions, and supply and demand; understand broader market value.
• Decide when to buy, wait, or pass on a deal, and determine stock quantities.
• Use promotions and market opportunities to improve margins while managing risk and capital.
• Build and maintain a broad network of distributors, wholesalers, traders, and other suppliers.
• Negotiate competitive pricing and terms and maintain supplier relationships.
• Take ownership of the financial outcome of each purchase from order to after delivery.
• Monitor inventory, sales trends, and market prices; decide when to hold or reduce stock.
• Coordinate with sales, purchasing, and other teams before buying and when inventory needs to be sold.
• Identify new brands, products, and trends; test opportunities and decide on expansion or discontinuation.

Job description

About the Role We’re looking for a smart, market-driven Strategic Purchaser to manage and grow our e-commerce and dropship purchasing program. This is not a typical purchasing role where you simply reorder products from a price list. We work with leading consumer electronics brands in a market where pricing, availability, and opportunities constantly change. Success requires knowing the market, building strong supplier relationships, recognizing good deals, and buying at the right price and time. We’re looking for someone who thinks independently, spots opportunities, makes smart decisions, and takes ownership of purchases from beginning to end.

What You’ll Do

• Stay on top of market pricing, product trends, promotions, and supply and demand, understand broader market value.
• Decide when to buy, wait, or pass on a deal, and determine appropriate stock quantities.
• Use promotions, special pricing, and market opportunities to improve margins while managing risk and available capital.
• Build and maintain a broad network of direct distributors, wholesalers, traders, and other reliable suppliers.
• Maintain regular supplier relationships, develop multiple sourcing options, and negotiate competitive pricing and terms.
• Take ownership of the financial outcome of each purchase, including after inventory arrives.
• Monitor inventory, sales trends, market prices, and product movement; decide when to hold, reduce prices, or clear stock-even at a loss when appropriate.
• Use personal selling outlets, our e-commerce program, and Connect’s other teams and channels to move inventory.
• Identify new brands, products, and trends.Test opportunities in controlled quantities and decide what to expand or discontinue.
• Find additional revenue and profit opportunities beyond everyday replenishment.
• Coordinate with sales, purchasing, and other teams before buying and when inventory needs to be sold through.
• Communicate key purchases, market changes, inventory risks, and selling opportunities; clearly explain expected outcomes, risks, and backup plans.
• Maintain clear records of suppliers, pricing, inventory, tests, and purchasing results, while making independent decisions collaboratively.

Requirements

• Strong market instincts and a natural drive to identify and negotiate deals.
• Ability to act quickly, make independent decisions, and take responsibility for results.
• Strong supplier relationships and understanding of margins, inventory turns, cash flow, and risk.
• Organized, analytical, and able to communicate purchasing decisions clearly.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to share information and help scale the purchasing operation.
• A plus: experience in product trading, collector or closeout stock, retail arbitrage, or other e-commerce sourcing and resale models.

What Success Looks Like

• Success is not measured by how much you buy or how many orders you fill. It is measured by how competitively you buy, how well inventory performs, how effectively you manage risk, and how much value you create for Connect.
• We want someone who buys like a trader, manages inventory like a business owner, and works as part of a team.