Kids Shoe Buyer

We are partnering confidentially with a globally recognized, multi-billion-dollar, New York-based retail leader on a high-impact hybrid opportunity based in New York City. This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly visible merchandising team responsible for shaping product assortments that connect with the next generation of consumers. The Buyer will play a key role in driving product strategy across a dynamic kids’ business—balancing trend, performance, and customer insight to deliver compelling assortments that resonate with both kids and parents. This role is ideal for someone who combines strong commercial instincts with creativity and curiosity—someone who understands how to translate trends into product that drives both brand excitement and financial performance. Why This Opportunity This position offers broad exposure across Planning, Allocation, Marketing, and Store Optimization, with the opportunity to directly influence both pre-season and in-season business decisions. The organization is in a pivotal phase of growth, continuing to evolve its merchandising strategy and deepen its connection to culture, consumer behavior, and product innovation. This role will play a key part in shaping assortments that capture emerging trends while delivering strong business results. What You’ll Own Own and drive product assortment strategy for a key kids’ category, balancing trend, demand, and financial performance Partner with vendors and product development teams to curate assortments that maximize sales, margin, and customer appeal Analyze sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to inform buying decisions and identify opportunities Lead vendor negotiations to secure the best product, pricing, and terms Partner closely with Planning and Allocation teams to develop and execute financial plansManage the product lifecycle from pre-line planning through delivery and in-season optimization Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing and Store teams to ensure strong product storytelling and execution Stay closely connected to the market through travel, trend analysis, and competitive insights What We’re Looking For 3+ years of experience in retail or e-commerce buying, merchandising, or a related field Proven ability to contribute to or own assortment decisions that drive sales and margin performance Strong understanding of kids’ apparel, footwear, and/or youth culture trends Ability to balance product appeal for both kids and parent decision-makers Demonstrated ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable decisions Experience working directly with vendors, including negotiation and relationship management Strong cross-functional collaboration skills across Planning, Allocation, and Marketing Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Proficiency in Excel; experience with tools such as Power BI or assortment planning systems is a plus Bachelor’s degree preferred Compensation $105,000-$115,000 per year #J-18808-Ljbffr