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About the Role
The Assistant Buyer is responsible for product setup, purchasing, vendor coordination, and inventory management, focusing on school and art supplies. This role supports student affordability and access by partnering with faculty, departments, vendors, and internal teams to ensure product availability and efficient operations. The Assistant Buyer will resolve issues, provide cross-functional support, and grow in decision-making responsibility.
Responsibilities
- Ensure supply assortments are complete, available, and well merchandised for each academic selling season.
- Coordinate with Course Materials Associates to resolve adoption issues and product availability concerns.
- Build and maintain faculty and department relationships to ensure accurate, timely course supply lists.
- Respond to faculty and customer inquiries and product requests, and route special orders.
- Ensure accurate and timely purchase orders, replenishment, and product setup, including pricing and categorization.
- Manage daily purchasing and ordering, recommending product, vendor, and pricing decisions.
- Maintain accurate product and vendor data, including pricing and item attributes.
- Manage vendor communications regarding order status, backorders, pricing updates, and discrepancies.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and product alternatives.
- Monitor and report on sales, margins, and inventory to support purchasing and budget decisions.
- Proactively identify and escalate risks, discrepancies, and opportunities affecting product availability and flow.
Requirements
- 1–2 years of relevant experience in buying, purchasing, inventory, or retail operations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and basic reporting.
- Experience with NetSuite or other ERP systems preferred.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities in a seasonal environment.
- Effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate the Co-op’s mission of student affordability and access and build strong faculty partnerships.
- Willingness and ability to cross-train and support the course materials team as needed.
- Ability to identify and escalate issues in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Understanding of merchandising principles, inventory management, and product lifecycle processes preferred.
- Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
- Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
- Communicating with others to exchange information.
- Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Focus
- Collaborating with Others
- Fostering Communication
- Initiative
- Planning & Organizing
- Problem Solving
- Vendor Management
- Excel
- NetSuite or other ERP systems
- Merchandising principles
- Inventory management
- Product lifecycle processes
Location
- Onsite
Work Type
- Full-time
- Hybrid (on occasion)
Experience Level
- 1-2 years
Education Level
- Bachelor’s degree in business, merchandising, or related field preferred
Benefits
- Training
About the Company
- The Co-op's mission is student affordability and access.
Equal Opportunity
- Our commitment to equal opportunity employment (EOE) extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, layoff, training, and benefits. We strive to provide a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.