5-7 years in buying or merchandising in premium, contemporary, or luxury fashion
Expertise in ready-to-wear, especially Men's RTW
Deep understanding of North American fashion market and consumer behavior
Experience with international brands and global merchandising teams
Strong financial and analytical skills, including OTB management
Responsibilities
Define and execute seasonal buying strategy aligned with global brand direction
Lead seasonal buying campaigns, optimizing product selection and category mix
Tailor assortments by store and market to maximize performance
Manage regional Open-to-Buy (OTB) and ensure investments align with forecasts
Conduct regular product performance reviews and recommend adjustments
Develop market intelligence on consumer preferences and trends
Collaborate with retail teams to align buying decisions with performance
Benefits
Opportunity for domestic and international travel (25-30%)
Engagement with global merchandising teams
Influence on regional buying strategy and product assortment
Professional development through collaboration with finance and retail teams
Potential for leadership in new store openings and key initiatives
Full Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
HEAD OF BUYING - NORTH AMERICA
Department: Merchandising & BuyingLocation: New York, NYReports to: President North AmericaFunctional Reporting: HQ Buying DirectorGeographic Scope: United States & Canada
The Head of Buying - North America is responsible for defining and executing the regional buying strategy to drive sales growth, profitability, and inventory efficiency across the North American retail network.
Working closely with the HQ Buying and Merchandising teams, the role ensures that global collections are translated into commercially relevant assortments tailored to local consumer preferences, while maintaining the brand's identity and positioning.
The position oversees buying across all product categories, optimizing product selection, buying investments, and inventory performance. It also provides market insights and commercial feedback to influence global merchandising decisions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Buying Strategy & Assortment Development
Define and execute the seasonal buying strategy in alignment with global brand direction and regional financial objectives.
Lead seasonal buying campaigns, optimizing product selection, category mix, and depth of investment.
Tailor assortments by store, market, and customer profile to maximize commercial performance.
Balance seasonal fashion products, key commercial styles, and carryover items.
Identify product opportunities, assortment gaps, and potential regional exclusives.
Define product assortments for new store openings and key commercial initiatives.
2. Buying Budget & Financial Performance
Manage and challenge the regional Open-to-Buy (OTB), ensuring investments are supported by sales forecasts, historical performance, and inventory productivity.
Optimize buying investments to maximize sales, gross margin, and full-price sell-through.
Monitor key KPIs, including sales, sell-through, markdowns, stock turn, and inventory aging.
Partner with Finance and HQ Buying teams on seasonal budgets, forecasts, and buying adjustments.
Identify opportunities to improve inventory efficiency and minimize overstock.
3. Product Performance & Inventory Management
Conduct regular product performance reviews by category, SKU, and store.
Identify best sellers, underperforming products, and emerging commercial opportunities.
Recommend replenishment, stock transfers, allocation adjustments, and markdown strategies.
Collaborate with Planning, Allocation, and Retail teams to optimize inventory distribution and product availability.
Provide product knowledge and training support to retail teams.
4. Market Intelligence & Global Collaboration
Develop a strong understanding of North American consumer preferences, market trends, and competitive positioning.
Regularly visit stores and engage with retail teams to gather customer and product feedback.
Act as the key regional contact for HQ Buying and Merchandising teams.
Represent North America during seasonal buying sessions and merchandising reviews.
Communicate regional product needs and commercial insights to influence future collection development.
Partner with Retail leadership to align buying decisions with store performance and business priorities.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Minimum 5-7 years of experience in buying or merchandising within the premium, contemporary, or luxury fashion industry.
Strong ready-to-wear expertise, with a particular focus on Men's RTW.
Solid understanding of the North American fashion market and consumer behavior.
Experience working with international brands and centralized global merchandising teams.
Strong financial and analytical skills, including OTB management, assortment planning, and inventory performance.
