Job Title: Buyer
Department: Buying & Merchandising
Work Type: Permanent – Full-time
Location: Vancouver
Salary: 70-80k

The Company:

JD Sports is a sports-fashion retail company inspiring the emerging generation of globally-minded consumers through a connection to the universal culture of sport, music, and fashion. Established in 1981, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports, Fashion, and Outdoor brands. With our retail stores expanding and evolving throughout Canada, the Group continuously finds and develops talent that adds to our inclusive and diverse work culture. JD successfully sets the global standard for retail experience through the unique delivery of the world’s most authentic brands. Our commitment to showcasing brands in a premium environment and stores remains a key part of the JD strategy.

The Opportunity:

As a JD Sports-Fashion Buyer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end buying and trading of your gender category. This includes working in conjunction with the wider buying and planning team to curate and execute the merchandise strategy. Within the role, you are expected to analyse market trends, negotiate with vendors, and manage the product lifecycle to ensure a competitive and profitable product range. You will closely with the retail, warehouse, and marketing departments.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Strategy & Future Planning (60%):

• Working with the leadership team, develop annual, seasonal, and monthly merchandise strategies.
• Working with the planning team, formulate space and range plans for store distribution in line with merchandise strategies and regional customer knowledge.
• Develop a product range that is commercially viable, trend-focused, and customer-centric in line with merchandise strategies
• Maintain buying calendar, schedule, present and Sign off Quarterly brand buys with the leadership team.
• Work with marketing to create a product marketing plan that drives traffic and generates excitement.
• Actively search for new brands and products that will protect the company’s top tier position within the marketplace.
• Conduct regular market research to identify emerging trends, competitor activity, and consumer behavior.
• Use data and insights to inform buying decisions and adjust the product range as necessary to fit the JD customer profile.

Sales & Inventory Management (40%)

• Analyse sales performance to make informed decisions and drive trade actions. This includes product reorders, cancellations, markdowns, and end-of-season clearances in conjunction with the planning department.
• Monitor regional and store performance at style and brand level to make informed decisions on stock consolidations, brand extensions, and rebuy opportunities
• Manage the on-order report, ensuring accurate on-order reporting including orderbook reconciliation with vendors/ brands.
• Manage inventory flow into the business through the call-off process in coordination with planning.

Skills/Experience/Knowledge Needed:

• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to effectively communicate with brands and internal teams.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Attention to Detail: Keen eye for detail to ensure accuracy in purchase orders, data entry, and record-keeping.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing data, market trends, and supplier performance.
• Proficiency in MS Office: Especially Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Problem-solving skills: Ability to identify issues and develop solutions quickly and effectively.

Career Development and Progression: At JD Sports, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. As a JD Sports-Fashion buyer, you will gain extensive experience in the buying and merchandising field, working with top brands and learning from industry experts. This role offers a clear career path with opportunities for advancement into buying. We provide continuous learning opportunities to help you build a successful and rewarding career within our dynamic and expanding organization.