Close-out Buyer (Retail)

Job Description

Our client is preparing to launch an exciting new large-format warehouse retail concept designed to deliver exceptional value, a broad assortment of products, and a dynamic shopping experience. As part of this major new venture, they are building a category leadership team to establish the framework for how the business buys, merchandises, and competes in a fast-paced retail landscape. The Close-out Buyer will be at the forefront of establishing and driving the product strategy for this category, focused on sourcing and managing liquidation and closeout inventory to support both the store opening and long-term growth.

This is not a traditional buying role. We are seeking an entrepreneurial-minded individual who thrives in a start-up environment where processes are being built from the ground up, agility is key, and decisions have an immediate impact on business outcomes. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining the liquidation category vision, including sourcing strategies, vendor relationships, pricing structures, and margin optimization.

Description

• Develop & Execute Liquidation Strategies: Lead category strategy development for liquidation and closeout products, including sourcing and managing bulk quantities of liquidation stock across general merchandise, seasonal, and opportunistic categories. Categories include household items, apparel, consumer electronics, footwear, and more.
• Lead Bulk Purchasing: Negotiate with suppliers to secure competitive pricing, volume discounts, and favorable terms, while ensuring strong margins and cost efficiency.
• Build Category Management Processes: Create and implement scalable buying and inventory processes to meet the demands of a high-volume, fast-moving warehouse retail environment.
• Trend Analysis & Insights: Analyze market trends, customer preferences, and competitor offerings to identify key opportunities for liquidation product assortment and category performance.
• Inventory Management: Monitor stock levels, guide replenishment, and optimize sell-through to maintain strong availability while controlling costs.
• Supplier Performance: Evaluate supplier reliability, product quality, and consistency to ensure high standards are met.
• Data-Driven Forecasting: Use sales data, margin analysis, and other performance metrics to forecast demand, refine purchasing strategies, and ensure inventory is aligned with customer needs.
• Category Profitability: Manage category budgets, with a strong focus on delivering profitability, margin targets, and efficient inventory turnover.
• Merchandising & Space Optimization: Apply best practices in product display, presentation, and space utilization to maximize sales and customer engagement in a warehouse setting.
• KPI Management: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to category sales, vendor performance, and purchasing efficiency to measure success.

Requirements

• Experience: 5 years of experience in wholesale, liquidation purchasing, or category management within high-volume retail environments (general merchandise, seasonal, apparel, consumer electronics, etc.).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, commerce, or a related field.
• Negotiation & Vendor Relations: Strong negotiation skills and a proven track record in supplier relationship management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong data analysis and decision-making capabilities, with advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with procurement or inventory management systems.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Experience in entrepreneurial or start-up retail settings is a significant advantage, as you’ll be building the category from the ground up.
• Organizational Skills: Highly organized, capable of managing multiple product categories in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Professional Certifications: Certifications in purchasing, supply chain management, or category management are a plus.

Corporate Culture

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Performance-based incentives
• Employee purchasing discounts
• Opportunities for career advancement as the retail concept grows

Contact Miriam Ronen at miriam.ronen@jrossrecruiters.com.