What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Buying position at 24 Seven Talent?
Job Description
Job Title: Director of Buying
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Position Overview
We are looking for a dynamic Director of Buying to lead product strategy, assortment planning, and financial performance across categories. This role requires a balance of creativity and business acumen, ensuring collections resonate with the brand’s identity while meeting customer demand and revenue goals. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in luxury or contemporary fashion, with proven leadership experience in guiding buying and merchandising teams and collaborating across departments.
Key Responsibilities
Job Title: Director of Buying
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Position Overview
We are looking for a dynamic Director of Buying to lead product strategy, assortment planning, and financial performance across categories. This role requires a balance of creativity and business acumen, ensuring collections resonate with the brand’s identity while meeting customer demand and revenue goals. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in luxury or contemporary fashion, with proven leadership experience in guiding buying and merchandising teams and collaborating across departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and implement strategic buying and merchandising initiatives that drive sales, profitability, and overall brand growth.
- Lead assortment planning, product curation, and category strategies to reflect the brand’s vision and align with customer needs.
- Partner closely with Design, Production, and Marketing to deliver cohesive collections and effective go-to-market execution.
- Manage vendor relationships, including negotiation of pricing, terms, and exclusivity opportunities.
- Use sales data, market insights, and trend forecasting to guide informed decisions on product selection and inventory strategies.
- Oversee Open-to-Buy (OTB), inventory productivity, and SKU optimization to balance risk with growth potential.
- Collaborate with eCommerce and Retail teams to strengthen merchandising across all channels.
- Explore opportunities for new categories, innovation, and sustainability-driven initiatives.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of buyers and merchandisers, fostering creativity, accountability, and results-driven performance.
- Provide competitive insights and performance reporting to senior leadership to influence key business strategies.
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, or related field (MBA a plus).
- 8 years of experience in buying and merchandising, preferably within luxury or contemporary fashion; 3 years in a leadership capacity.
- Strong expertise in financial planning, forecasting, and inventory management.
- Keen awareness of industry trends, consumer behavior, and the competitive market landscape.
- Skilled in vendor negotiations and relationship management.
- Demonstrated leadership with experience managing cross-functional teams.
- Highly organized with a strong eye for product, aesthetics, and storytelling.
- Proficiency in retail analytics, financial modeling, and Microsoft Excel.
- Passion for fashion, craftsmanship, and innovation.
