Buying Manager

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia, we're as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we're proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: "It's perfect. Now make it better." As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy.

We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Buying Manager is responsible for driving and influencing the development of optimal assortments, financial plans, visual merchandising strategies, and marketing to maximize sales and gross margin. This position is a key leader on the buying team creating action-based tools, managing timelines, and developing team members. They are key strategic partners with cross-functional teams across planning, allocations, and marketing.

HOW YOU'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Develops product assortments for a top volume category including style selection and product flow ensuring synergy with financial plans. Develops and presents assortments that support overall strategy of in-stock positioning for key merchandise categories, balanced presentations, and accurate and timely receipt flow.
• Drives in-season business management including open-to-buy management, inventory management, and price strategies to increase sales and improve gross margin.
• Drives cross-functional discussions with other teams regarding product needs and store execution.
• Leads various projects and drives process improvements ensuring efficiency and consistency within the team.
• Influences and participates in developing top line strategy, leads product meetings, and works with cross-functional teams to create product that supports business strategy and marketing campaigns.
• Communicates, facilitates, and executes visual merchandising and marketing strategies to meet and/or exceed sales and margin goals.
• Partners with Allocation team on product execution ensuring all products including marketing styles are delivered within seasonal direction, focusing on maximizing sales and margin.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

YOU ARE

• A strong leader, who can successfully mentor and develop junior level Buyers.
• Proficient in manipulating data including statistical analysis and advanced math calculations.
• Well-versed in retail math including intricacies of open to buy, inventory turnover and gross margin.
• Well-versed in attention to detail as well as excellent organizational and presentation skills

YOU HAVE

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising or related field or combination of experience and education in lieu of completed degree.
• 10 years' experience in retail merchandise planning, buying, merchandising or allocation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Expert understanding of retail industry preferred, including metrics-based sales and KPI's
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as excellent presentation skills
• illustrator experience preferred

#LI-JC1

To learn more about our hiring process during COVID-19, click here .

Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.

At Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. CSC believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.