Associate Buyer - Automotive Dept.

Sears is committed to improving the lives of our customers by providing quality services, products and solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships. We are proud of our diverse, high-performance team work environment and we strive for continuous improvement through keen focus on growth, effectiveness and a sense of urgency. Individuals who are driven to earn our customers' trust and business every day, who act with integrity, who treat everyone fairly and value diversity, and who are accountable for their actions are welcome to show interest in becoming a member of our winning team.

Plans and manages the merchandising programs for a small category of merchandise or merchandise within an assigned category to achieve sales, gross margin, inventory, and turnover goals.

Qualifications
1. In conjunction with Buyer/Category Manager and Merchandise Planner, determines long- and short-term goals and establishes a business strategy for achieving goals related to assigned merchandise. Manages business to meet sales and gross margin plans while meeting turnover objectives.

2. In conjunction with Buyer/Category Manager and Merchandise Planner, develops and adjusts seasonal financial plans and merchandising assortments that are consistent with financial plans, merchandising trends, and customer feedback.

3. Develops collaborative vendor relationships and negotiates terms that fit within financial parameters. Maintains productive relationships with vendors to ensure optimal pricing and long-term continuity of supply and service for assigned merchandise.

4. Works in conjunction with Product Development and Quality Assurance to develop private label programs and create items with appropriate quality levels.

5. Works in conjunction with Merchandise Planner and Merchandiser to ensure merchandise reaches stores with maximum efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.

6. Works in conjuction with Space Management and Visual Merchandising to ensure planograms and adjacencies support departmental plans and store capabilities.

7. Works with Buyer/Category Manager to prepare advertising plans and executes plans to ensure timely delivery of adequate quantity of advertised merchandise. Analyzes advertising results to assist in future planning.

8. Maintains ongoing flow of communication with merchandising-related departments, stores, and customers to deliver and obtain information pertinent to merchandise within area of responsibility, according to established schedules.

9. Visits competition to research product, pricing, and merchandise presentation strategies. Maintains a high level of product awareness to keep current on new products, lines, categories, new technologies, and new concepts in retailing.

Benefits
As a Sears professional, your career path options will be determined by your performance as well as your desire to advance further within the Sears organization. You'll also get some of the best benefits in the industry: -Medical, Dental and Legal Plans -Flexible Spending Accounts -Associate Discounts -Group Universal Life Insurance -Long-Term Disability Insurance -Long-Term Care Insurance -Business Travel Accident Insurance -Short-Term Disability -Vacation/Personal and National Holidays -WorkLife Solutions Please Note: Different eligibility rules apply to certain benefits. Some businesses do not offer all benefits shown.


Sears is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.