Senior Buyer, DTC Digital Commerce
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Sr. Buyer, DTC Digital Commerce is responsible for executing product investments across SOREL's North America digital channels (US & Canada), translating Merchandising strategy into precise SKU- and size-level decisions within Planning-defined financial guardrails. This role owns all facets of DTC buying execution - seasonal contract creation, in-season price and inventory management, and consistent validation that product is live, visible, and accurately priced on site.
The Sr. Buyer partners cross-functionally with Merchandising, Planning, Site Merchandising, Marketing, and Operations to bring the assortment to life - moving product seamlessly from strategy to site to consumer. This is a highly executional role, requiring strong attention to detail, speed, and accountability.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Executes seasonal DTC contracts at SKU and size level with precision across units, cost, delivery timing, and market allocation; manages in-season adjustments including reflows, cancels, and delivery shifts. (DTC Contract Creation & Inventory Execution - 25%)
Aligns inventory flow to seasonal storytelling moments, key product launches, and transition periods (e.g., winter to spring) to reduce aged inventory and ensure timely, on-need delivery.
Reads and responds to consumer demand signals, product performance, and market-specific trends across Sell-Thru%, Weeks of Supply, Inventory Turn, and Revenue vs. Plan; recommends and executes rebuys, cancels, and flow adjustments in partnership with Merchandising leadership. (In-Season Optimization & Consumer Response - 25%)
Generates a timely weekly business update rooted in proposed actions, and delivers post-season recaps aligned to GTM gates.
Ensures product - including in-line and SMU styles - is live, discoverable, and accurately represented on site through bi-weekly site audits (US & Canada) validating data integrity, franchise visibility, and alignment to seasonal narrative; works in conjunction with the Site Merchandising specialist to identify and resolve missing product or inventory-to-site misalignment. (Digital Product Experience & Visibility - 10%)
Partners with Merchandising to ensure strategy translates accurately into product decisions, and with Planning to validate alignment to OTB and financial guardrails; collaborates with Site Merchandising, Marketing, and Operations to ensure product is ready, activated, and supported. (Cross-Functional Partnership - 20%)
Partners with Merchandising ahead of seasonal kickoff to pull pre-season data, attends select GTM meetings to build line knowledge, identifies assortment holes or opportunities, and builds an initial seasonal financial snapshot in concert with Merchandising. (Go To Market - 20%)
YOU ARE
Data-driven and analytically fluent - comfortable manipulating data and applying retail math (open-to-buy, inventory turnover, sell-thru, weeks of supply, gross margin) to inform SKU- and size-level decisions.
Has an eye for visual merchandising and a strong pulse on footwear trends, with the instinct to translate both into compelling on-site presentation.
Adaptive to a changing business, willing to evolve process and lean on a forward-looking sales plan rather than historical precedent alone.
Disciplined about reducing redundant work - partners with Planning and Site Merchandising rather than duplicating it.
Accountable to deadlines, meeting DTC SOD timelines without exception and turning around requests same-day or same-week.
A clear, proactive communicator who brings a formal, data-backed point of view to every recommendation without being asked.
Well-versed in attention to detail, with excellent organizational and presentation skills.
YOU HAVE
Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, or a related field, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
Footwear buying experience, with a nuanced understanding of seasonal buying cycles and category-specific demand patterns.
8-10 years of experience in retail merchandise planning, buying, merchandising, or allocation, with direct DTC/Ecommerce buying experience.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, and Power Query for data manipulation and reporting
Working knowledge of Power BI for building and maintaining sell-thru, inventory, and performance dashboards.
Working knowledge of website analytics tools (e.g., GA4) and DTC/Ecommerce platforms.
Advanced understanding of retail industry metrics, including open-to-buy, sell-thru, inventory turn, and weeks of supply.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present formal, data-backed recommendations to Merchandising leadership.
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.
Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to [email protected] with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.