Foot Locker

Senior Director Buying - Kids Footwear FTL/KFL (Hybrid)

Foot Locker • $170K — $185K *
New York, NY 10025Hybrid
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Reposted 1 week ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a specialty retail environment
  • Experience in apparel and footwear is a plus
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, or related field
  • Career history in progressive buying or merchandising roles for branded/private label businesses
  • Thorough knowledge of merchandising, trend forecasting, budgeting, and personnel supervision

Responsibilities

  • Build and execute merchandising strategies aligned with corporate goals and local customer needs.
  • Drive best practices to create a high-performing merchandising function.
  • Lead the merchandise planning process, ensuring sales volume and margin growth.
  • Build strong vendor relationships for effective product negotiations.
  • Manage monthly forecasting and identify risks and opportunities to financial plans.
  • Collaborate with Marketing to develop engaging product programs and campaigns.
  • Identify market trends and consumer preferences to inform product mix decisions.

Benefits

  • Employee Discount
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Medical | Dental | Vision Coverage
  • 401(k) | Roth 401(k)
  • Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Opportunities for Advancement
  • Tuition Reimbursement for Qualified Courses
  • Strong Company Culture
  • Employee Resource Groups
Full Job Description
This hybrid position will be located at our New York Corporate Office. Expectations for the hybrid in-office schedule are three days a week, typically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Foot Locker, Inc, is hiring a Sr. Director, Buying to join our team! The Sr. Director, Buying is a member of the North America team and will support our kids' footwear category. You will oversee and lead a buying team to ensure maximum sales, profits, and productivity metrics through successful assortment building, inventory management, and gross margin focus, consistent with divisional and company merchandise strategies.

Responsibilities

Strategy Development and Execution:
  • Build our brand by understanding our overall corporate goals and pillars and interpreting this vision into short, mid and long-term merchandising strategies, all while considering unique global and local customer needs.
  • Innovate and drive best practices to create a world-class merchandising function that supports the Company's broader goals of growth and high standards of customer service through superior levels of execution on all fronts.
  • Lead the merchandise planning process, creating and implementing seasonal plans that deliver sales volume, margin growth, and inventory turnover while incorporating promotional and markdown strategies. Drive these decisions and strategies through to completion to ensure achievement of financial plans and forecasts.

Vendor Relationship Management:
  • Build favorable external relationships and establish/maintain a solid reputation in the industry.
  • Partner and negotiate with vendors on all product-related issues, including assortments, buy quantities, deliveries, and price, in order to maximize Company's profits and surpass established financial goals.

Financial Planning:
  • Lead monthly forecasting/statement process, including plan building, budget planning, and revisions as needed. Ensure reporting identifies risks and opportunities to sales and margin plans.
  • Keep abreast of industry best practices and monitor financial performance against corporate objectives. Address improvement opportunities.

Marketing Integration:
  • Partner with the Marketing team to develop program ideas that support key product investments and which drive both consumer excitement and merchandise sell-through. Lead the buying team in the identification of in-store opportunities to tell exciting and commercially relevant product stories and partner with Marketing/vendor partners to enlist social/digital media support.

Trend Identification:
  • With a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, this role leads the buying team to define and develop the product mix. Monitor and interpret market and consumer trends, as well as the activities of competition, to identify new opportunities while maintaining close communication with our retail stores to keep a pulse on ever-shifting customer preferences.
  • Drive a team to follow social media and sports/fashion content and conduct market travel to identify evolving styles/trends/behaviors within our core consumer segments. Initiate product tests to lead the market in emerging opportunities and look to scale early market entry to a large commercial business as warranted.

People Development:
  • Build the capabilities of the team by developing individuals that are qualified to meet current and future objectives and can serve as bench strength for future company leadership.
  • Provide honest, objective feedback of individual team member's strengths and weaknesses, and identify training and on-the-job opportunities for growth and professional development. Lead the department's annual performance review and Executive Development Review processes.


Qualifications

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in a specialty retail environment
  • Experience in apparel and footwear is a plus
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing or equivalency required
  • Career history that combines progressive buying or merchandising roles for branded and/or private label businesses
  • Thorough knowledge of merchandising, trend-forecasting, buying & distribution, marketing, inventory control, budgeting, financial planning and personnel supervision
  • Familiarity and comfort-level in a customer-service oriented culture
  • Demonstrated ability to "raise the bar" in terms of performance and revenue growth within a fast-paced environment
  • Proven skill at influencing and negotiating with business partners, both internally and externally
  • Ability to take ownership of decisions and guide and push back in a diplomatic manner, even when faced with dissenting points of view
  • Encourage creative tension while rema ining positive and composed
  • Comprehensive understanding of the financial, strategic, and technical capabilities of the organization
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and critical thinking skills
  • Must be able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner
  • Travel expectations estimated to be about once a month

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.

#LI-JJ1

Benefits

The annual base salary range is $170000 - $185000. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the salary for this position. This role is also eligible to receive short term incentives that align with company performance. 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 Foot Locker, Inc. total compensation package, which includes the below.

Foot Locker Benefits:
  • Employee Discount
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Medical | Dental | Vision Coverage
  • 401(k) | Roth 401(k)
  • Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Opportunities for Advancement
  • Tuition Reimbursement for Qualified Courses
  • Strong Company Culture
  • Employee Resource Groups

About Foot Locker

Foot Locker, Inc. is a global retailer of shoes and apparel, operating 3,473 primarily mall-based stores in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand as of February 1, 2014. The Company operates in two segments: Athletic Stores and Direct-to-Customers. The Athletic Stores segment is an athletic footwear and apparel retailers whose formats include Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, SIX:02, as well as the retail stores of Runners Point Group, including Runners Point, Sidestep and Run2. The Direct-to-Customers segment includes Footlocker.com, Inc. and other affiliates, including Eastbay, Inc., CCS, and Tredex, which sells to customers through Internet Websites, mobile devices, and catalogs.

Foot Locker Careers

Join the dynamic team at Foot Locker, a leading global retailer of athletically inspired shoes and apparel. At Foot Locker, we empower our employees with unmatched opportunities for career growth and leadership development in the retail industry. Work You’ll Do Become a part of Foot Locker’s vibrant culture by joining our diverse team. We are committed to innovation, leadership, and excellence in every aspect of our business. From sales to corporate functions, Foot Locker offers a variety of job opportunities that allow you to bring your passion and creativity to our team. Transform your career with Foot Locker, where we value diversity and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment. We believe that our team’s varied perspectives and experiences are crucial to our success. Lead with Confidence Step into a role that challenges you, fosters your professional growth, and puts you on the path to leadership. At Foot Locker, you’ll work alongside industry leaders and seasoned professionals who are eager to share their knowledge and experience. Work with a team that’s as passionate about the success of the company as they are about each individual’s career advancement. Foot Locker offers extensive training and development programs, including diversity training and leadership workshops, to help you reach your full potential. Innovative Opportunities Engage in work that matters with a company that’s at the forefront of the retail industry. Foot Locker is constantly innovating to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers and to stay ahead in a competitive market. Our employees enjoy a range of benefits that support their personal and professional lives, including health, dental, and vision insurance, employee discounts, and flexible working arrangements. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Foot Locker internship. Gain invaluable industry experience, develop your skills, and build your professional network. Our internships offer a real-world glimpse into how a major retail company operates, providing you with the tools needed to succeed in your future career. Join Our Team Explore the employment opportunities at Foot Locker and find the position that matches your skills and ambitions. We are always looking for curious, driven, and innovative team players who are ready to make an impact. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest company news, hiring events, and career tips by visiting our Foot Locker Careers page. Customize your job alerts to receive updates on positions that interest you the most. Apply Today Ready to take the next step in your career? Submit your resume, prepare for your interview, and join a company that’s committed to your growth and success. Search Foot Locker jobs now and discover how you can contribute to our dynamic team. Foot Locker is not just a company; it’s a place where you can grow, innovate, and lead. We look forward to welcoming you to our team and helping you achieve your professional goals.
Learn more about Foot Locker
Size
16,555 employees
Market Cap
$3.3 billion
Industry
Retail & Consumer Goods
Net Income
$323 million
Founded
1974
5 Year Trend
+2.9%
Revenue
$7.5 billion
NASDAQ
FL
* Ladders Estimates

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