Assistant Buyer, Designer Shoes

About the Company

Saks Global is a leading luxury retail group with several well-known brands under its umbrella, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks OFF 5TH. The company focuses on delivering personalized shopping across stores and digital channels, supported by strong brand relationships, advanced technology, and customer data to shape the next phase of luxury retail.

Role Overview

In this position, you will support buying for designer shoes by helping with vendor coordination, purchase order execution, inventory tracking, pricing updates, and profitability analysis. The role suits someone who enjoys fast-moving retail environments and can balance detail, analysis, and cross-functional communication.

Order Management

• Work with Buyers, Associate Buyers, and brand partners to confirm order information such as product details, shipping data, delivery timelines, and priority items, while keeping buy sheets accurate and resolving any mismatches.
• Guide offshore Merchandise Assistants in creating and sending purchase orders to brand partners, making sure order details are accurate, shipments stay on schedule, and issues are addressed or escalated when needed.
• Support allocation planning by giving direction to the Planning Allocation team, especially for high-touch categories like designer merchandise.
• Communicate receipt-flow changes to the offshore team and help maintain purchase orders so ship windows, order quantities, and on-order positions are reflected correctly.

Market Preparation

• Help prepare Buyers for market by partnering with Planners to compile insights on historical performance, including best and worst sellers by door, along with trend direction and customer preferences.
• Coordinate market appointments and occasionally attend the New York market.
• Support style-out sessions by handling logistics and gathering insights that strengthen assortment presentation.
• Contribute to the early development of strategic assortments designed to increase sales and strengthen brand growth.

In-Season Analysis and Execution

• Serve as the main contact for execution questions and feedback coming from brand partners and internal teams such as visual merchandising, site merchandising, stores, digital, marketing, and planning.
• Track business performance closely with Assistant Planners, share style-level insights with Buyers, suggest in-season actions such as requesting ATS on sold-out items, and support monthly open-to-buy preparation.
• Manage markdown timing and oversee offshore execution of price changes, RTVs, and related activities, while handling any escalated concerns.
• Partner with the offshore reporting team to build custom buying reports, preserve view structure changes, and ensure deliverables are completed on schedule.

Required Background

• You should be comfortable working through ambiguity, take initiative, and perform well in a fast-paced setting.
• Strong personal accountability and the ability to prioritize and multitask without constant supervision are important.
• You need to be able to quickly generate practical and creative solutions to problems.
• Strong relationship-building skills are essential, along with the ability to communicate directly while remaining diplomatic and trustworthy.
• A history of going beyond targets and delivering strong outcomes in a large, complex organization is expected.
• You should be open to change and willing to adopt new ways of working as the business evolves.
• Solid understanding of retail math is required, including markup, margin planning, open-to-buy, and inventory productivity measures such as WOS, T/O, and GMROI.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and clear verbal and written communication skills are necessary.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is required.
• You should be comfortable using retail systems such as RFS, AMS, PCW, and NuOrder.
• Prior experience of 1 to 2 years as an Assistant Buyer is preferred, ideally within a major department store.

Benefits and Perks

• Opportunity to grow within a company undergoing significant expansion and transformation.
• Exposure to career advancement across retail, distribution, digital, and corporate functions within a major luxury retailer.
• Comprehensive benefits for eligible full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Employee discount.
• Additional benefits may include 401(k) retirement plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, and voluntary options such as critical illness, hospital, and accident insurance, subject to eligibility.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $59,000 to $79,000. Final starting pay will depend on the work location, experience, and other job-related factors, and the range may reflect different market conditions.

Additional Information

This employer is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse, inclusive workplace. Compensation can vary by geographic location, and the listed range includes multiple markets, including higher-cost areas.