Position Title: Senior Buyer – Women’s Department: Merchandising Reports To: Director of Buying Schedule: Monday – Friday | Core Business Hours | Onsite | Some Travel Required Role Overview As the Senior Buyer – Women’s, you will drive strategic assortment planning and product selection, curating fashion-forward collections that align with our brand aesthetic and customer preferences. You will manage the end-to-end product lifecycle—from concept to in-season execution—using data-driven insights, trend analysis, and customer feedback. This role requires strong commercial acumen, leadership capabilities, and deep knowledge of the women’s fashion retail space. Key Responsibilities Assortment Strategy & Product Selection • Lead the development of seasonal category strategies to achieve sales and margin goals • Build well-balanced assortments using data, market trends, and customer behavior • Conduct in-depth attribute analysis to ensure optimal assortment breadth and depth • Maintain accurate assortment plans, updating regularly based on performance and receipts • Support marketing strategies by balancing hero and acquisition-driving products Avara Exclusive Product Development • Drive brand-aligned product development by translating trend insights and customer feedback into commercially viable styles • Collaborate with Design, Product, and Sourcing teams to ensure cohesive development, margin optimization, and timely execution • Utilize weekly selling data and seasonal hindsight to guide vendor requests and inform future assortments Vendor Relations & Negotiation • Build and maintain long-term, mutually beneficial vendor partnerships • Negotiate pricing, terms, and exclusivity to improve profitability and delivery timelines • Continuously evaluate vendor performance and onboard new partners as needed • Conduct regular vendor meetings and ensure clear follow-ups Sales Performance & Inventory Management • Monitor category and product-level sales performance daily • Conduct weekly sales recaps and identify key opportunities or risks • Recommend actions such as restocks, markdowns, or marketing support • Partner with Planning to manage stock levels and ensure receipt accuracy • Use insights from product life cycles to refine future assortment strategies Trend Forecasting & Market Awareness • Stay informed on global fashion trends, consumer behavior shifts, and industry developments • Conduct thorough trend analysis to support seasonal planning • Monitor competitor assortments and share key findings with the team Leadership & Team Development • Manage and mentor Assistant Buyers through regular check-ins and developmental coaching • Review workload, KPIs, and career goals, providing clear and constructive feedback • Delegate new tasks and projects to support team growth and skill-building • Ensure timelines and deliverables are met with a high degree of accuracy Cross-Functional Collaboration • Lead internal product reviews with Creative, Marketing, and other departments • Communicate product decisions with strategic rationale • Flag at-risk styles or delays proactively to ensure timely resolutions • Represent the merchandising point of view in company-wide meetings and projects Financial Management & Analysis • Develop and manage the buying budget to align with company goals • Analyze margin performance, sales data, and inventory productivity • Adjust buying strategies based on data-driven insights and market trends • Partner with Finance and Planning to ensure targets are met Core Competencies • Strategic Thinking • Leadership & Mentorship • Trend Awareness & Aesthetic Judgment • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Results Orientation • Negotiation & Communication • Adaptability in a Fast-Paced Environment Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field • 6+ years of buying or merchandising in the women’s fashion retail sector, preferably with eCommerce experience. • Strong analytical and forecasting skills with a data-first mindset • Effective communicator and cross-functional collaborator • Skilled in inventory management software and Excel • Experience mentoring and leading a team preferred