Associate Buyer

Under the direction of the Buyer, the Fashionphile Associate Buyer manages the day‑to‑day operations and execution of the Fashionphile program across the fleet, including assortment planning, ship‑level execution, visual merchandising, training, and product flow management. This position serves as the primary liaison between Fashionphile, Starboard’s merchandising and planning teams, and onboard retail teams to ensure seamless execution, brand integrity, and sales optimization for the vintage luxury handbag category. The Associate will act as the internal brand champion, driving storytelling, event success, and performance analysis for Fashionphile across all ships. What You’ll Be Doing Essential Duties & Responsibilities Assortment & Inventory Management Partner with Fashionphile on ship‑by‑ship assortment planning to ensure the right mix of brands, fashion vs core, mens, and subclass penetration Lead offload and ship‑to‑ship transfer requests in coordination with the planning and logistics teams Brand Training, Merchandising & Presentation Coordinate all brand training initiatives, both onboard and virtual, ensuring teams have current product knowledge and storytelling skills Train onboard teams on Fashionphile’s visual merchandising standards and brand presentation guidelines Ensure all training materials and guides are updated on Allego and effectively communicated to the field Visit local ships to review presentation standards, performance, and team engagement Co‑opt Marketing, Events & Trunk Shows Partner closely with the Fashionphile team and the Starboard Coop Director to ensure all coop marketing programs and activations are executed flawlessly Coordinate trunk show strategy and execution, led by the Fashionphile brand representative Work with marketing on event planning, storytelling, and photography needs to elevate brand presence onboard Solicit feedback from shipboard teams on event effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement Reporting, Analysis & Communication Create and maintain new reporting to analyze category and ship‑level performance, identify trends, and drive actionable insights Lead quarterly leadership‑level meetings to review business performance and partnership strategy Meet weekly with Fashionphile to discuss sales, upcoming deliveries, and event recaps Manage and respond to brand and shipboard callouts promptly, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently Interpersonal Management & Brand Advocacy Serve as the quintessential Fashionphile Brand Champion within Starboard, ensuring the brand DNA is represented consistently across all ships Build strong cross‑functional relationships with planning, marketing, and operations teams to support brand initiatives Manage shop capacity and presentation quantities, evaluating visual impact against available space Represent Fashionphile in internal meetings and build a reputation as a proactive, solution‑oriented team member Qualifications 3 to 6 Years of experience Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Strong understanding of retail, fashion, or accessories merchandising Excellent analytical and reporting skills with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, and interpersonal Strong sense of brand storytelling and visual merchandising execution Comfortable working cross‑functionally and in partnership with external vendors Self‑starter with the ability to work independently and in a fast‑paced environment Collaborative and enthusiastic team player with a passion for vintage and luxury goods Travel Requirements 15‑35% travel required Key Competencies Customer Service Relationship Management Business Acumen Drive for Results Self‑Development Courage Problem Solving Communicating Effectively Teamwork and Collaboration Managing Conflict Motivating Others Adaptability Decision Making Managing and measuring work Position Type/Expected Hours Of Work This position will be based in the Doral Starboard HQ 4 days a week with Wednesday remote. Ship visits domestically and internationally as needed. Physical Demands Office environment with frequent sitting, walking and standing, occasional climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and balancing. Frequent use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling use of office machinery. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds. Oral and auditory enabling interpersonal communication as well as communication automated devise such as the telephone. What We Commit To At Starboard Group and Onboard Media curating a vibrant world can only be accomplished by vibrant and diverse teams. We are committed to nurturing a workplace where you can feel safe to show up authentically and thrive while being uniquely you. Our North Star guides us to deliver equal employment opportunities for all individuals and to providing employees with an equitable work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We also aim to extend this commitment to the partners we work with and the guests we serve. We are constantly listening, learning, and evolving to deliver on these promises. We believe our differences make us stronger and are curious to see you leverage your lived experiences to strengthen our team, our culture and your career. At Starboard Group and Onboard Media we take action so that no one is discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability (physical, mental or sensory), ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, genetic information, family care status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. All employment decisions will be made based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. #J-18808-Ljbffr Starboard Group