Senior Buyer - Women's

Position Title: Senior Buyer - Women'sDepartment: MerchandisingReports To: Director of BuyingSchedule: Monday - Friday | Core Business Hours | Onsite | Some Travel RequiredAbout Us:Avara is a dynamic and innovative company dedicated to creating a sense of community through the shared love of fun, accessible, curated fashion that will inspire women to feel authentically confident. Avara creates and curates a line of women's clothing and accessories that come with compliments guaranteed!Avara was founded in 2018 by a mother, Emily Wickard, who after spending 20 years in Corporate Finance, decided to take a leap of faith and start her own clothing brand. Since its humble beginnings in Emily's home, Avara has grown exponentially, with "Avaraistas" in every state and over 130,000 satisfied customers. In 2023, Avara was recognized as the #1 fastest growing privately held eCommerce company in the country by Inc Magazine.Our goal is to be the go-to brand for fun, accessible fashion that allows women to celebrate all of life's moments with confidence and joy.Role OverviewAs 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 ResponsibilitiesAssortment Strategy & Product SelectionLead the development of seasonal category strategies to achieve sales and margin goalsBuild well-balanced assortments using data, market trends, and customer behaviorConduct in-depth attribute analysis to ensure optimal assortment breadth and depthMaintain accurate assortment plans, updating regularly based on performance and receiptsSupport marketing strategies by balancing hero and acquisition-driving productsAvara Exclusive Product DevelopmentDrive brand-aligned product development by translating trend insights and customer feedback into commercially viable stylesCollaborate with Design, Product, and Sourcing teams to ensure cohesive development, margin optimization, and timely executionUtilize weekly selling data and seasonal hindsight to guide vendor requests and inform future assortmentsVendor Relations & NegotiationBuild and maintain long-term, mutually beneficial vendor partnershipsNegotiate pricing, terms, and exclusivity to improve profitability and delivery timelinesContinuously evaluate vendor performance and onboard new partners as neededConduct regular vendor meetings and ensure clear follow-upsSales Performance & Inventory ManagementMonitor category and product-level sales performance dailyConduct weekly sales recaps and identify key opportunities or risksRecommend actions such as restocks, markdowns, or marketing supportPartner with Planning to manage stock levels and ensure receipt accuracyUse insights from product life cycles to refine future assortment strategiesTrend Forecasting & Market AwarenessStay informed on global fashion trends, consumer behavior shifts, and industry developmentsConduct thorough trend analysis to support seasonal planningMonitor competitor assortments and share key findings with the teamLeadership & Team DevelopmentManage and mentor Assistant Buyers through regular check-ins and developmental coachingReview workload, KPIs, and career goals, providing clear and constructive feedbackDelegate new tasks and projects to support team growth and skill-buildingEnsure timelines and deliverables are met with a high degree of accuracyCross-Functional CollaborationLead internal product reviews with Creative, Marketing, and other departmentsCommunicate product decisions with strategic rationaleFlag at-risk styles or delays proactively to ensure timely resolutionsRepresent the merchandising point of view in company-wide meetings and projectsFinancial Management & AnalysisDevelop and manage the buying budget to align with company goalsAnalyze margin performance, sales data, and inventory productivityAdjust buying strategies based on data-driven insights and market trendsPartner with Finance and Planning to ensure targets are metCore Competencies Strategic ThinkingLeadership & MentorshipTrend Awareness & Aesthetic JudgmentCross-Functional CollaborationResults OrientationNegotiation & CommunicationAdaptability in a Fast-Paced EnvironmentQualificationsBachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field6+ 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 mindsetEffective communicator and cross-functional collaboratorSkilled in inventory management software and ExcelExperience mentoring and leading a team preferredBenefits:Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.Health, dental, and vision insurance.Opportunities for professional development and growth.Collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Created: 2025-10-03