Buyer, Merchandise - WSS

Overview

This hybrid position will be located at our WSS office. Expectations for hybrid in-office schedule is three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

 

The Buyer owns the end-to-end strategic direction and financial performance of their assigned category. Partnering directly with the Merchandise Leader, the Buyer is responsible for architecting and executing annual financial plans—specifically driving sales, optimizing margins, and maximizing inventory turns. As an entrepreneurial leader, the Buyer has the autonomy to "run their own business" within WSS, translating high-level strategy into actionable tactics for their team while prioritizing collective organizational growth.

Buyers will be paired with a Planner and a Merchandiser who will function with the Buyer as business partners to achieve the financial Plan.

 

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Financial Accountability: Own and maximize retail growth, revenue, and profitability for assigned area(s), ensuring all category actions align with or exceed established financial plans.
• Strategic Assortment Planning: Curate highly competitive, customer-centric product assortments and confidently pitch seasonal strategies and business opportunities to Senior Management.
• Vendor Management & Negotiation: Cultivate high-value vendor relationships, leveraging strong negotiation skills to secure favorable business terms, exclusive products, and profitable margins.
• In-Season Commercial Management: Drive agile, in-season inventory management including forecasting, dynamic markdown strategies, inventory consolidation, and order management (PO modifications/cancellations).
• Inventory & Allocation Strategy: Collaborate with Planning and Allocation teams to optimize stock levels, maximize sell-through, and implement strategic redistribution initiatives.
• Marketing & Promotional Execution: Develop and execute impactful advertising and promotional strategies that highlight product investments and accelerate retail sales.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner seamlessly with Marketing, Store Operations, and Visual Merchandising to ensure the category vision is flawlessly executed in-store and online.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and empower direct support staff—including Planners, Merchandise Analysts, and Merchandise Coordinators—fostering a high-performance, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: 3+ years of direct buying experience within a fast-paced retail environment.
• Preferred Background: A well-rounded foundational background in retail store management, allocation, inventory planning, or merchandising.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Retail ERP systems, merchandise management software, and the Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel capabilities required).
• Core Competencies: Proven leadership capability, exceptional communication skills, sharp financial acumen, and a thrive-on-autonomy mindset.

 LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to use, apply, and understand basic retail math concepts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages).

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and use basic problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Ability to remain flexible, prioritize, and respond to changing requests from your team.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff and management.
• Be an independent and self-motivated team player.

At Foot Locker, we value innovation, authenticity, and integrity in all that we do.  To uphold the security and fairness of our hiring process, we ask that candidates refrain from using AI tools, including ChatGPT, during interviews and assessments.  To ensure a smooth and secure experience, please review the following guidelines:

• Cameras must be on for all virtual interviews.
• AI tools are strictly prohibited during interviews or assessments.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to create a transparent and equitable hiring experience.

Benefits

The annual base salary range is $124,000 - $130,000 / year. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the salary for this position. Salary will be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Salary is one component of the WSS total compensation package, which includes the below.

• Paid Time Off, Paid Parental Leave
• Life, Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage – Individual and Family Plans
• Self-Development & Recognition Programs
• Bonus Incentive Program
• Advancement Opportunities
• 401k Retirement Plan and HSA Contributions
• 30%-50% Employee Discount - Friend & Family Events
• Community Engagement Opportunities

This is a hybrid position with in0office work on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in our Gardena, CA office.

WSS is the premier footwear retailer in the U.S. doing business in neighborhood-based stores. Consumers trust WSS for the best brands, greatest values, and largest selection of athletic, dress, fashion, and casual footwear for the entire family.  Our store format enables us to showcase thousands of styles from top brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Vans, Converse, Puma, etc. In addition, WSS carries high quality private brands augmenting the breadth of selection to deliver amazing value to our customers.

 

Founded in Southern California in 1984 by entrepreneur Eric Alon, all WSS stores feature a unique retail format that displays every style and size. This allows customers to browse on their terms, in a hassle-free environment, engaging the friendly and knowledgeable sales staff when they choose. The success of this business model has allowed WSS to continue its rapid expansion into new markets.

 

WSS is committed to giving back to the communities we serve, sponsoring or participating in over 350 local events each year.  Stay connected to us via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and at www.shopwss.com.