AKIRA Senior Buyer

Position: Senior Buyer

Location: Chicago, IL (On-site)

Position Overview:

AKIRA is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Buyer to lead the merchandise assortment and buying strategy across multiple product categories. This individual will drive product vision, assortment planning, and inventory investment decisions to deliver compelling, trend-right product offerings that maximize sales, margin, and customer engagement across both retail stores and eCommerce.

The ideal candidate combines a strong fashion instinct with analytical rigor, leveraging customer insights, trend forecasting, and business performance data to make informed merchandising decisions. This role will lead and develop a team of buyers and assistant buyers while partnering closely with Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Creative, and Production to execute category growth strategies and achieve company objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute seasonal and annual buying strategies aligned with company sales, margin, and inventory goals.
• Own category performance, including sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, sell-through, turn, and markdown management.
• Possess a strong fashion point of view and keen eye for trend, product, and styling.
• Create compelling assortments that balance trend, fashion authority, customer demand, and commercial opportunity.
• Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, customer insights, and sales performance to identify growth opportunities and assortment gaps.
• Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, inventory investments, and seasonal SKU productivity.
• Partner with vendors and manufacturers to negotiate pricing, delivery timelines, exclusives, and margin-enhancing opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships while identifying and onboarding new strategic partners.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to shape private label opportunities and category expansion initiatives.
• Drive pricing architecture and assortment strategies that support both sales growth and profitability objectives.
• Monitor product lifecycle performance and develop action plans around replenishment, markdown optimization, and inventory risk mitigation.
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing and E-Commerce teams to support product launches, promotional campaigns, and key brand initiatives.
• Ensure a cohesive product experience across retail stores and digital channels.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Buyers and Assistant Buyers, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Travel domestically and internationally, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of buying, merchandising, or category management experience within fashion retail.
• Proven success managing multiple product categories and delivering sales and margin growth.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, interpret, and anticipate emerging fashion trends
• Strong understanding of assortment planning, inventory management, Open-to-Buy planning, and retail financial metrics.
• Experience negotiating cost, margin, production timelines, and business terms with domestic and international vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable business strategies.
• Deep understanding of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and the contemporary retail landscape.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and merchandise planning/reporting systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-growth, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

Benefits and Perks:
AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and a
generous employee discount. We're committed to internal growth, providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.

Compensation:

At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.

Job Type: Full-Time