Job Description
At Kipling, we put our people first. We always have and we always will. It is ingrained in our DNA. Good people bring out the good in people, and good people are the foundation of this brand. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who believe in new experiences, living a life of positivity, and discovering our own way, Kipling just may be the place for you. To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Kipling Careers or www.kipling-usa.com . Associate Buyer, Retail (Kipling) What will you do? A day in the life of an Associate Buyer, Retail at Kipling looks a little like this. The role supports the execution of Kipling’s retail merchandising strategy across channels. It partners closely with Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, Visual, Marketing, and Store Operations teams to ensure assortments are executed accurately and effectively to achieve sales, inventory, and profitability objectives. The Associate Buyer plays an important role in day‑to‑day business operations, including reporting and analysis, purchase order execution, SKU management, and sample coordination. This is an ideal opportunity for an organized individual with strong business acumen and a passion for product who can hit the ground running and collaborate effectively within a team environment. Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more. Assist in curating a balance and compelling product assortment that is consumer centric and aligns with seasonal financial strategies to achieve financial targets. Conduct weekly sales analysis and seasonal hindsight analysis to identify opportunities and risks and recommend actionable strategies. Present in weekly business meetings, seasonal hindsight meetings, and final buy reviews to the leadership team. Manage day-to-day buying responsibilities and ensure accuracy- promotion execution, purchase order creation, track product deliveries for floor sets, SKU maintenance, and sample organization. Partner with cross‑functional teams to support accurate and timely execution of floor sets, product launches, and key initiatives. Immerse yourself in the Kipling brand, product assortment, customer, and store environment. Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, Visual, Marketing, and Store Operations to bring assortments to life. Utilize buying assortment tools to ensure a balanced assortment strategy, optimizing SKU count and maximizing productivity. Partner with Planning to support sales forecasting, inventory modeling, and trend analysis. Create analysis to measure promotional performance and analyze consumer purchasing behaviors by region. Learn and utilize buying systems and tools to support daily business needs. Build strong relationships with store teams and cross‑functional partners to support seamless execution. What do you need to succeed? We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education like a bachelor’s degree from a four‑year college or university is great to have, we are most interested in your 2+ years of associate retail buying or associate merchandising and professional achievements The foundation skills you will need in this position are: Strong knowledge of retail math Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required; Power BI a plus Self‑starter who is proactive, organized, and comfortable in managing up Strong team player with a hands‑on, solution‑oriented mindset and a growth mindset Detail‑driven with strong analytical and problem‑solving skills Comfortable juggling multiple projects with competing priorities Now WE have a question for YOU. Are you in? Hiring Range: $61,600.00 USD - $77,000.00 USD annually Incentive Potential : This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process. Benefits at VF Corporation : You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provid