ASSOCIATE BUYER

Associate Buyer, Merchandise Operations Join Our Family of Brands – Northern Reflections, Ricki's & Cleo At Northern Reflections, Ricki's, and Cleo, we are united by a shared vision: to inspire and empower women through fashion that fits their lives. With a proud legacy in Canadian retail, we bring together decades of expertise, a passionate team, and a commitment to delivering exceptional style, quality, and service. As part of our growing organization, you'll join a collaborative and dynamic team that values innovation, customer connection, and the power of great fashion. Whether it's timeless comfort, polished workwear, or versatile style, each of our brands plays a unique role in serving women across generations. We provide an environment of empowerment where cross-functional teams collaborate and support one another to achieve mutual goals. We value high-performing teams where Associates passionately engage in building relationships that foster loyalty and trust. We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships with our Customers through an exceptional experience. As our business evolves, our vision has remained constant... We are devoted to our customers, passionate about our brands, and inspired by our people. Position Summary Reporting to the Category Manager, the Associate Buyer, Merchandise Operations plays an integral role within the Merchandising team, supporting Northern Reflections, Ricki's, and Cleo across multiple product categories and brands This role sits at the intersection of merchandising, product development, operations, and technology, combining traditional buying and merchandise administration responsibilities with modern digital tools and AI-driven solutions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making across the product lifecycle. The successful candidate will support the development and execution of product assortments from concept through production while coordinating critical operational processes including purchase orders, sample management, product information management, photoshoots, marketing initiatives, and cross-functional project support. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual looking to build a career in merchandising and buying while gaining exposure to multiple brands, categories, and all aspects of the product journey within a leading Canadian fashion retailer. Key Responsibilities Merchandising & Buying Support * Support Category Managers in developing product assortments that align with departmental financial, sales, inventory, and strategic objectives. * Assist in product development activities from concept through production, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and cost objectives are achieved. * Work closely with Design, Vendors, Quality Assurance, and Sourcing teams to support product development and execution. * Partner with Sourcing on factory coordination, lead time management, costing information, and product readiness. * Maintain accuracy of style, costing, delivery, and product information across merchandising systems. * Support in-season business management activities including reorders, cancellations, markdowns, and inventory management. * Collaborate with Planning to monitor inventory flow, buy quantities, and department performance against plan. * Analyze sales performance, product trends, and market opportunities to support assortment planning and business decisions. Merchandise Operations * Maintain buying documents, product development trackers, assortment plans, and merchandising reports. * Coordinate purchase order information and support system entry, validation, and ongoing maintenance. * Assist with monthly purchase order controls and verification against department financial plans. * Maintain fabric, trim, colour, and lab dip libraries and associated records. * Ensure product information is complete, accurate, and maintained throughout the product lifecycle. * Coordinate product samples across Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, Marketing, and eCommerce teams. * Manage sample inventory and organization for all brands and categories. * Support cross-functional timelines to ensure on-time delivery of products and product information. Marketing & eCommerce Support * Coordinate and schedule product samples for eCommerce photography, marketing campaigns, and promotional initiatives. * Support monthly, seasonal, and special project photoshoots by ensuring product readiness, sample management, and styling coordination. * Provide outfit styling recommendations and product insights to support marketing and digital content development. * Serve as a key contact for product information and content inquiries from internal partners. * Support Marketing and eCommerce teams with product launches, campaigns, and special projects. * Coordinate product-related requirements and timelines across Marketing, eCommerce, and Merchandising teams. Process Improvement & Technology * Utilize AI-powered tools and technology solutions to improve product data accuracy, content management, reporting, and workflow efficiency. * Participate in process improvement initiatives across merchandising, buying, and product development functions. * Assist in maintaining data integrity within merchandising, PLM, ERP, and related business systems. * Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve operational effectiveness. * Support adoption of new tools and technologies that enhance team productivity and decision-making. Qualifications * Undergraduate degree or diploma in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field. * Minimum 2 to 3 years of experience in merchandising, buying, product development, retail operations, or a related field. * Experience within a private-label apparel or fashion retail environment is considered an asset. * Knowledge of merchandise trends, garment construction, fabrications, quality standards, and product development processes. * Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. * Experience working with PLM systems and Microsoft Dynamics NAV is considered an asset. * Experience using AI tools and digital technologies to support business processes is preferred. * Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to interpret sales performance, identify trends, and support business decisions. * Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. * Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. * Excellent verbal and written communication skills. * Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. * Passion for fashion retail and curiosity about how technology is shaping the future of the industry. * Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with a willingness to learn and grow. Why Join Us? At Northern Reflections, Ricki's, and Cleo, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced merchandising, design, planning, marketing, and eCommerce professionals while gaining hands-on exposure to the full product lifecycle. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience across three distinct Canadian retail brands while developing expertise in merchandising, buying, product development, marketing, and retail operations. The successful candidate will build a strong foundation for future growth into roles such as Buyer, Category Manager or Merchandise Planner. Join us and help shape the future of Canadian women's fashion.

The Associate Buyer supports the merchandising team by managing product assortments, coordinating purchase orders, and overseeing sample management from concept to production. They also collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze sales performance and utilize digital tools to improve operational efficiency.

Candidates must possess an undergraduate degree or diploma in a relevant field and have 2 to 3 years of experience in merchandising, buying, or retail operations. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and knowledge of product development processes are required.

• CollaborationPreferred
• Attention to detailPreferred
• Data analysisPreferred
• Microsoft ExcelPreferred
• CommunicationPreferred
• Product DevelopmentPreferred
• Project managementPreferred
• Inventory managementPreferred
• Retail operationsPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Merchandising
• Buying
• Product development
• Microsoft Excel
• Data analysis
• Inventory management
• Project management
• Trend analysis
• Garment construction
• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration
• AI tools
• PLM systems
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Retail operations
• Market Opportunities
• Sales Analysis
• Retail Operations
• Sample Management
• Financial Sales
• Assortment Planning
• Strategic Objectives
• Inventory Monitoring
• Workflow Management
• Curiosity
• Business Decisions
• Technology Solutions
• Willingness To Learn
• Fashion Merchandising
• Technical Design
• Fashion Retail
• Planning
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Garment Construction
• Photography
• Management
• Business Process
• Business Systems
• Category Management
• Decision Making
• Textiles
• Content Management
• Critical Thinking
• Data Integrity
• Digital Content
• E-Commerce Management
• Empowerment
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Sales

• Retail
• Marketing
• Administrative
• Management & Leadership
• Data & Analytics
• Associate Buyer
• Merchandising Specialist
• Sales Demonstrators
• Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers

Minimum education

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum experience

2+ years

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week