Kipling: Senior Buyer, Retail & eCommerce

Senior Buyer, Retail & eCommerce (Kipling)

As the Senior Buyer, Retail & eCommerce, you will lead the buying and merchandising strategy for Kipling’s Outlet business across both retail stores and digital commerce channels in the United States.  You will be responsible for creating customer-focused assortments, driving sales and profitability, influencing product development, and ensuring the right products are available at the right place and right time. 

You will serve as a key cross-functional leader, partnering closely with Planning, Allocation, Merchandising, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Digital & Store Operations, Sales, Field Leadership, and Global Product teams to deliver compelling assortments that fuel growth and elevate the consumer experience.  The position reports to the Senior Manager of Buying and is a hybrid position working 3 days a week at our Jersey City, New Jersey office headquarters.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Merchandise & Assortment Strategy

• Develop and execute seasonal Outlet product strategies that align with Kipling’s business objectives, brand positioning, and DTC growth goals.

• Influence product development and assortment architecture through analysis of consumer demand, market trends, product performance, and competitive insights.

• Identify product segmentation opportunities, Outlet exclusives, and channel & store-specific product strategies.

• Manage SKU productivity, lifecycle planning, and assortment optimization from creation through end-of-life.

• Determine assortment breadth and depth by channel, location, store tier, and regional needs to maximize sales potential.

• Partner with creative team to ensure seasonal assortment strategies come to life in store and online. 

• Responsible for sample management. 

Buying & Financial Management

• Drive financial results by achieving revenue, gross margin, inventory turn, and productivity targets through rigorous analysis of key performance indicators and customer trends by channel.

• Develop preseason and in-season buy plans, forecasts, and inventory strategies across categories and channels.

• Manage open-to-buy (OTB), order placement, inventory flow, and product lifecycle decisions to optimize productivity and inventory turns.

• Own consumer-facing pricing and markdown strategies, including execution and accuracy, partnering with digital and store operations teams.   

• Continuously analyze business performance, reforecast sales and inventory, and implement corrective actions to achieve goals.

• Identify risks and opportunities within the assortment and recommend proactive strategies to maximize sales and profitability.

• Present learnings to Senior Leadership in weekly business reviews and quarterly product hindsight meetings.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Planning, Allocation, and Operations teams to ensure optimal inventory positioning and productivity across channels (stores & digital).

• Collaborate with Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Digital & Store Operations, Sales, and Field Leadership to create a seamless consumer experience across all Outlet touchpoints.

• Participate in seasonal Go-to-Market (GTM) milestones and represent Outlet business needs throughout the product creation process.

• Lead weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reviews and present recommendations that drive improved performance.

• Gather and leverage store, field, and customer feedback to inform assortment, pricing, and merchandising decisions.

Consumer & Market Insights

• Monitor consumer trends, competitive activity, and market dynamics that impact the Outlet assortments by channel.

• Utilize quantitative and qualitative insights to shape assortment strategies and identify emerging opportunities.

• Stay connected to customer needs and shopping behaviors to ensure product offerings remain relevant and compelling.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

We all bring unique experiences and perspectives to work, and we celebrate them every day.  While formal education is important, we are equally interested in your proven track record delivering results in buying, merchandising, planning, and retail leadership environments. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Fashion, Retail Management, or related field.

• 7+ years of retail buying, merchandising, or planning experience in an apparel, footwear, or accessories brand.

• Demonstrated success managing large-volume categories and delivering financial results.

• Strong understanding of assortment planning, inventory management, forecasting, and Open-to-Buy processes.

• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable business strategies.

• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.

• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and retail planning/reporting tools.

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.

• Experience in vertical retail, outlet retail, value-based retail, or multi-channel environments.

• Knowledge of product development and merchandise lifecycle management.

• Experience working with global merchandising organizations and seasonal GTM processes.

• Knowledge of SAP, Power BI, or related buying and reporting tools

This role operates out of our HQ in Jersey City, NJ three days a week.

Hiring Range:

$101,200.00 USD - $126,500.00 USD annually

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com  and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at peopleservices@vfc.com. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.