Buying Manager
Los Angeles, California
Buying and Merchandising /
Full-Time /
On-site
About the Company:
Rooted in DTLA, we're a rapidly expanding premium women’s fashion brand seamlessly integrating traditional brick-and-mortar with direct-to-consumer and wholesale strategies. Backed by private equity, we are a fast-growing presence in the retail industry. Our dynamic team, though small, embodies the entrepreneurial ethos, providing ample opportunities for members to expand their expertise and capabilities.
Expectations for All Employees:
Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, accountability, ownership, and a commitment to our community and a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Role Overview:
We are looking for a well-organized, talented, and enthusiastic Buying Manager to join our team. Working cross-functionally, you will contribute to the development and production of our collections. This position will play a hand in sourcing, buying, and planning. Your responsibilities will include maintaining supplier relationships, managing documentation, tracking costs and deliveries, and analyzing supplier performance.
Essential Responsibilities
- Maintain close contacts with international suppliers; evolve and grow the relationships
- Identify and establish relationships with new suppliers to expand the network and diversify sourcing options
- Regularly communicate with vendors and fabric suppliers to facilitate fabric development, delivery, costing, and production processes, ensuring alignment with quality standards and brand requirements
- Ensure on-time delivery of all tech-files to suppliers.
- Build and maintain digital and physical fabric, trim, yarn, and wash libraries with core and novelty options.
- Enter and maintain material data library to include directional costing and MOQs.
- Monitor costing sheets and margins to optimize profitability and cost-effectiveness
- Analyze suppliers’ performance based on quality, punctuality, transparency, communication, creative input, and sales results
- Review material testing reports to uphold quality standards and identify improvement opportunities
- Track delivery timelines to ensure on-time order fulfillment and minimize delays
- Manage the inventory of hangtags, fabrics, and trim
- Incorporate knowledge of sustainable fabrics and practices into sourcing decisions
- Stay updated on global textile regulations to ensure adherence to quality and safety standards
- Collaborate with various teams to recommend fabric qualities and streamline sourcing processes
- Find the right sourcing mix of different production countries and different speed
Minimum Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in merchandising, retail buying, merchandising support/analytics (e.g., operations, pricing), product development, or similar field
- Certified in fashion technology, garment technology and pattern cutting is a plus, economic study
- Demonstrated proficiency in product costing, along with a comprehensive understanding of product development, fabric sourcing, textiles engineering, and sustainability principlesFamiliarity with sourcing processes, manufacturing techniques, and supply chain operations
- Highly collaborative with the ability to effectively collaborate across different disciplines
- Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, capable of consolidating and analyzing data from diverse sources.
- Skilled in generating reports and graphics to facilitate decision-making processes
- Capable of working independently with a proactive and hands-on approach with a strong ability to prioritize tasks effectively
- Flexible, accurate, and structured with a strong sense of responsibility and results orientation
- Demonstrates resilience and thrives under pressure and possesses a strong sense of curiosity and integrity
$74,000 - $104,000 a year
The Company offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and education and a benefits package that includes generous vacation time, group medical, dental and vision plans, an employer-sponsored 401K retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution, flexible hybrid work schedule, and a generous clothing discount.
This is an exempt full-time position with an annual salary range of $74,000 - $104,000. A compensation offer is based on relevant years of experience in relation to the position.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Our company is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. In addition to federal law requirements, our company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
