|
Today’s job seekers are busy people, with little time to spend deciding if a job is right for them. The job posting you write must grab their attention with wording that conveys the top benefits of working for your brand. Our retail buyer job description template makes that easier to do.
In 2014, there were 443,200 positions available for buyers and purchasing agents, with 2 percent growth expected through 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It’s critical that your “Help Wanted” posting stands out from the rest and describe what sets your business apart to interest the best candidates.
The retail buyer job description template below and subsequent tips guide you in writing a job description that helps potential employees see themselves in the position you offer. By keeping the focus on the job seeker’s needs, you can quickly put together a job posting that brings in the ideal person to fit your company’s culture.
||
Retail Buyer Job Description Template
Job Summary:
We’re looking for a driven, creative Retail Buyer to join our passionate Merchandising team and gain sought-after experience in buying, product development, and merchandising.
You’ll get the chance to plan and select a range of products to sell throughout our stores, along the way making sure that new merchandise aligns with our brand standards and remains competitive. We’ll also look to you to keep up to date with the latest fashion trends and use these insights to refine our buying process.This is a great opportunity to grow and develop your skills in a supportive, positive environment.
Job Responsibilities:
- Analyze consumer buying patterns and predict future trends
- Review weekly sales performances per store and by region
- Manage plans for stock levels on a seasonal basis
- React to changes in demand and logistics
- Meet with vendors and negotiate terms of contracts for existing and future orders
- Maintain relationships with existing suppliers and source new vendors for future products
- Liaise with Stores Managers to ensure supplies meet demand.
Job Skills & Qualifications:
Preferred:
- We desire a team player with excellent business, analytical, communication (verbal and written), presentation and fashion-sense skills.
- Professional demeanor with strong cross-functional collaboration skills with all types of team members and vendors.
- Multilingual: English required and international experience greatly favored.
Requirements:
What to Include in a Winning Retail Buyer Job Description Template
A clearly written job description is your best tool in attracting qualified employees. Pulling out important parts using paragraphs, subheadings and bullet points makes it easier for readers to find the information they seek. It’s important to include four sections: a job summary, a list of duties and responsibilities, a list of needed skills and a company overview.
Job Summary: What will the potential employee gain by accepting a position with your company? Make sure to describe the work from the job seeker’s point of view. Retail buyers want to know what to expect in terms of autonomy, flexibility and responsibility. For example, will they be working solo or managing a team? How much travel is involved?
Duties & Responsibilities: Use specific language, but don’t go into excessive detail. Especially mention any unusual or company-specific duties you expect retail buyers to handle. It’s best to format this as 6 to 8 bullet points for clarity, as shown in the retail buyer job description template.
Skills: Break this part into two sections: Required and Preferred, as in the template above. Deal-breakers go in the Required section, but if a particular skill is useful but not a must-have, list it in the Preferred section. Include the desired educational background, as well as the physical demands of the job.
Company Overview: Here’s where you can go into detail on what makes your business great. Show the candidate the special, unique or outstanding traits that make your company one they want to be a part of. If the company has received any industry recognition or awards, be sure to mention those things.
Making better hires starts with building better job descriptions
• Browse 100s of templates across 40+ industries
• Customize your template with your company info & job requirements
• Post it to 20+ job boards in seconds – for FREE!

Get a professional, candidate-centric job description quickly & easily with MightyRecruiter
Retail Buyer Job Description Writing Do’s & Don’ts
- Do mention any trade shows or conferences that the retail buyer will be expected to attend.
- Don’t go into too much detail on the job skills, but make it clear which are critical, such as evaluating suppliers.
- Do use the job summary section of the retail buyer job description template to speak directly to the potential candidate, using “you” and “your” to help them visualize working for your company.
- Don’t leave out benefits and perks that make your business stand out and add value to the salary, and include any potential to advance to a purchasing or supply manager position.
- Do state whether overtime is expected. Twenty percent of retail buyers reported working more than 40 hours in 2014, according to the BLS.
- Don’t forget to consider the value of certifications such as Certified Purchasing Professional or Certified Professional in Supply Management credentials, if applicable.