Macy’s- Associate, Buyer
About Macy’s
Macy's is America’s store for life. The largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M) delivers quality fashion at affordable prices to customers at approximately 640 locations in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam, as well as to customers in more than 100 international destinations through leading e-commerce site macys.com. Macy's inspires fashion exploration and discovery through the most desired family of exclusive brands for her, for him, for the home, and via our dynamic mobile and social platforms. We know the power of celebration, demonstrated through decades of memorable experiences created during Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows, and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores – including New York City’s Herald Square – are internationally renowned and preeminent destinations for tourists. With the collective support of our customers and employees, Macy's builds community and helps make a difference in every market we serve, supporting local and national charities by giving nearly $50 million each year, plus 146,000 hours of volunteer service. For more than 160 years, Macy’s has, and continues to, make life shine brighter for our customers, colleagues, and communities.
About the Position
The Associate Buyer is responsible for driving sales, margin, turn and growth across both channels for a defined area within the Buying Director’s total area of responsibility. This position will support the Buying Director in developing and executing a strategic vision, with a progressive, customer centric-approach all while delivering on sales and profit objectives. This role requires the ability to leverage technical expertise to identify opportunities and develop assortment strategies. A fundamental requirement is to be able to build trust with their teams and key collaborators. Perform other duties as assigned.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
The Associate Buyer will be known as a trusted, collaborative and results-oriented leader, business partner and change agent who can lead through influence and who possesses professional maturity and industry credibility. The ideal candidate needs to be comfortable and effective leading through significant complexity. Candidates must be comfortable with quickly evaluating and sun-setting legacy approaches that no longer align to the strategy. The ideal candidate will be known for both vision and an equally strong orientation for speed.
What you’ll be doing…
Make “company first” decisions
Ability to influence partners
Actively influence market to drive business
Develop self by participating in ongoing professional development and training
Seek out innovative solutions to existing customer and/or Company challenges
Communicate with candor and value open debate to ensure the best ideas come to life
Essential Functions
Able to develop, plan, present and execute strategies.
Make all purchasing decisions independently of Buying Director that satisfies the customer demand and achieves sales, turn and margin plan.
Understands competitive marketplace and pursues white space opportunities that align with North Star Strategy.
Competitive shop and determine action necessary to address competitive challenges. Identify any product opportunities and provide suggestions and input in product development to vendor.
Support Buyer to drive in season business effectively through influence of promotional strategies based on current business needs.
Regular, dependable attendance and punctuality.
Assortment Vision, Strategy & Selection
Attend Market appointments prepared with strategic assortment plans and an understanding of product to support customer preferences.
Set the vision and determine call to action for assortment building opportunities in partnership with Planning, Fashion Office, and Digital teams.
Collaborate with planning partner to develop and execute assortment strategy.
Develop pre-season assortment vision that ties to company key priorities and insights from Digital and Planning Director counterparts.
Partner with Financial Planning to ensure department level financial targets support assortment strategy.
In-season Forecasting & ROF
Decide on in-season changes to make for the department and vendors based on sales, margin and turn forecast from Financial Planning.
Support Financial Planning and Buying Director in building seasonal strategy components based on targets.
Provide Buying Director with category, class and item performance analysis to assist in determining in-season item-level changes to make.
Relationship Building with Vendors, Pricing, Marketing & Visual Merchandising Site/Stores
Maintain an industry presence that allows for connections, new business opportunities and ideas at Macy’s. Represent and support the Macy’s brand while maintaining this presence.
First point of contact with Vendor Community, Marketing, Visual, Stores, and Pricing.
Communicate with vendors to ensure timely collection of MDAs/markdowns/RTVs and partner with Financial Planning to ensure alignment with in season VMT input.
Partner with Pricing team on Pricing strategy and in-season adjustments
Qualifications and Compentencies
Bachelor's Degree from a 4-year college or university
1-2 years direct experience
Practices open and continuous communication, values keeping others informed, effectively presenting information in a clear, concise manner.
Excellent leadership, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work across functional lines and at many levels.
Ability to think creatively, strategically and technically
Ability to work a flexible schedule based on department and Company needs.
Knowledge of MS Office computer programs are required
Other information
This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Click here to see details on benefits.
