Assistant Buyer - Kmart Juniors job in SAN FRANCISCO

Job Summary: The Assistant Buyer is an entry-level position within the Buying organization. This position performs the technical and mechanical aspects of the buying role and completes functions that contribute to the Buying Team's ability to achieve sales, gross margin, inventory, and turnover goals for assigned categories of merchandise while learning the long-range business strategy within the area of responsibility. This position reports directly to a Buyer. The Assistant Buyer works closely with the buying and merchandising support teams in the execution of product selection, assortment planning, vendor communication, inventory productivity management, and marketing of specific lines/categories to significantly improve profitability and maximize shareholder value. Job Duties/Responsibilities: Financial Planning and Forecasting Generates weekly financial reports (sales, markdowns and receipt) and analyzes data to draw conclusions and provide recommendations to the team on opportunities to improve performance. Provides input and participates in the business and line review meetings to evaluate sales, markdowns, receipts and best/worst sellers. Working in tandem with the buyers and associate buyers to organize the presentation for business and line reviews and provide explanation of strategy and entry/exit plans. Utilize analytical tools to determine and recommend the appropriate markdown strategy, (this includes timing and the price matrix). Presents the markdown cadence for approval and enters the plan in the system. Generates reports to analyze item performance versus last year and competitors. Provides recommendations to the buyer for forecast estimates. Product Selection and Assortment Planning Completes the new vendor setup by verifying and approving the required vendor documentation. Monitors and collects on the vendor allowance agreements for defects, markdowns, signage, etc. Based on category, may manage item set up process. Liaison between Inventory Management and Vendors on accuracy of items and details. Assists in the development, selection, and negotiation of product to include cost, subsidy and terms. Performs analysis required to assist in the development of the buy plan. Responds to store inquiries for merchandise by researching planograms, inventory allotments, store demographics, sales performance, etc. Recommends appropriate solutions and executes upon buyer approval. Refines and optimizes planograms to deliver innovative and profitable approaches to merchandising product. Actively maintains awareness of products, customer preferences, competitors to keep current on ways to better service customer in assigned categories. Advertising Creates and manages the input of advertising plan: Coordination and setup of the ad program, proper setup and picturing of the item, obtains samples, communicates to the vendors, advertising team, and logistics team. Approves advertising turns-ins and proofs photos and written copy. Proofs point of sale signage and maintains integrity of quality of signage for ease of store execution level. Determines amount of subsidies to be collected from vendors for advertising and ensures timely collection. Analyzes advertising results to assist in future planning. Monitors and maintains promotional performance and provides recommendations to Associate Buyers/Buyers based on analyzing and interpreting sales trends, reporting promotions by sales, gross margin by product/category and store to assist in future strategy and driving improved performance. Inventory Productivity Management Establishes collaborative relationships with Inventory Management to ensure availability and the timely delivery of merchandise. Determines product that needs to be marked down, builds a strategy, monitors performance of sell-thru during clearance cadence to determine timing of further reductions. Collects funding from vendors to offset margin loss. For seasonal businesses, develops melt-down plan and monitors sell-thru to plan to determine actions that need to be taken: markdowns, etc. Participates in the process of building and maintaining relationships with vendors and interacts with the vendor community while adhering to the company standards and codes of ethics. Perform other duties as assigned. Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree from a four year college or university (preference given to Merchandising, Finance and Retail Management degrees); or fours years related experience and/ or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Responsibilities:

*Generates weekly financial reports, analyzes data to draw conclusions, provide recommendations to team to improve performance

*Provides input, participates in business and line review meetings to evaluate sales, markdowns, receipts and best/worst sellers for plan variances

*Working in tandem with buyers and associate buyers to organize presentations for business and line reviews, provide explanation of strategy and entry/exit plan

*Utilize analytical tools to determine, recommend appropriate markdown strategy (timing and price matrix). Presents markdown cadence for approval, enters plan in system

*Generates reports, analyzes similar items performance last year and competitor analysis of similar items. Provides recommendations to buyer for forecast estimates.

*Completes new vendor setup, verifying, approving required vendor documentation, writing, monitoring and collecting on vendor allowance tracking agreement for defects, markdowns, signage, etc

*Responsible for entering, validating required data into the Item Management system for item set up. Liaison between Inventory Management and Vendors on accuracy of items and details. Coordinates follow through with Inventory Management, Vendors and Merchandise Systems Support team to ensure purchase order creation

*Assists in development, selection, and negotiation of product to include cost, subsidy and terms

*Performs analysis required to assist in development of buy plan for seasonal categories.

*Responds to store inquiries for merchandise by researching planograms, inventory allotments, store demographics, sales performance, etc. Recommends appropriate solutions and executes upon buyer approval

*Refines and optimizes planograms to deliver innovative and profitable approaches to merchandising product

*Develops awareness of products, customer preferences, SHC stores and competitor

stores to keep current on innovations and concepts in retailing to better serve customers and improve assigned categories

*Creates and manages input of advertising plan: Coordination and setup of ad program, proper setup and picturing of the item, obtains samples, communicates to vendors, advertising and logistics teams

*Approves advertising turns-ins and proofs all photos and written copy, verifying photography, stock numbers, etc

*Proofs inputs for point of sale signage and maintains integrity of quality of signage to ease store execution

*Calculates, verifies amount of subsidies to be collected from vendors for advertising, ensures timely collection. Lead vats collection efforts to meet month end goals

*Analyzes advertising results to assist in future planning

*Monitors and maintains promotional performance and provides recommendations to Associate Buyers/Buyers based on analyzing and interpreting sales trends, reporting promotions by sales, gross margin by product/category and store to assist in future strategy and improved performance

*Establishes collaborative relationships with Supply Chain , ensure availability and timely delivery of merchandise

*Determines product to be marked down due to discontinuation or slow movement, builds strategy in the system and creates a benchmark. Monitors performance of clearance sell-thru to determine timing of further reductions. Collects funding from vendors to offset margin loss

*For seasonal businesses, develops melt-down plan, monitors sell-thru to plan to determine actions that need to be taken: markdowns, etc

*Participates in process of building, maintaining relationships with vendors and interacts with vendor community while adhering to company code of conduct

Skill/Experience Requirements

*Bachelor's degree from a four year college or university; or fours years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination education, experience

*Proficiency in use of Windows-emphasis on Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint

*Strong analytical and follow-through skills and focus on details

*Highly effective written and verbal communication skills

EEO EMPLOYER