Assistant Buyer

About the role

At Cracker Barrel, we believe the quality of our team reflects the quality of our guests' experiences. This role is crucial in supporting our team members by ensuring that all necessary items and vendors are properly set up and managed.

Responsibilities

• Vendor and Item Setup: Responsible for vendor and item setup, including new vendor onboarding requirements, item maintenance, barcode review, SKU file accuracy, and purchase order creation for approved items.
• Merchandise Management: Ensures merchandise is set up appropriately in merchandising systems with accurate cost, retail, pack, and shipping information to support on-time receipt and product integrity.
• Cost Changes and Updates: Supports cost changes, retail price updates, order maintenance, and purchase order follow-through to ensure accurate execution.
• Category and Assortment Support: Supports the Buyer in developing assortments, reviewing item sales, evaluating productivity, and identifying opportunities for new items, reorders, exits, or assortment refinements.
• Sample Coordination and Product Review: Initiates, tracks, receives, and organizes product samples for review, line development, and model store needs. Prepares product submittals and samples for merchant review and supports approval workflows, sample setup, and return-to-vendor coordination as needed.
• New Product Development: Supports new product development and assortment curation by gathering market information, product details, and vendor follow-up.
• Shipment, Packaging, and Issue Resolution: Coordinates and communicates shipment timing, packaging details, and delivery issues with vendors, Supply Chain, Distribution Center partners, and the merchandising team. Tracks and helps resolve late shipments, packaging issues, missing invoices, late payments, and other execution risks that could impact delivery or product launch timing.
• Return-to-Vendor Processes: Supports return-to-vendor processes and follow-through when merchandise issues or business decisions require vendor resolution.
• Cross-Functional and Vendor Partnership: Communicates with cross-functional partners including Planning, Allocation, Visual Merchandising, Supply Chain, Guest Relations, Operations, and stores to support merchandise execution and issue resolution. Manages day-to-day external communication with vendors regarding product samples, shipping, packaging, pricing, schedule changes, and related follow-up.
• Merchandising Leadership Support: Provides support to merchandising leadership, including the Buyer, Associate Buyer, Sr. Buyer, Director of Merchandise, and VP/GMM, through meeting preparation, assortment support, reporting, and execution follow-through.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 1–3 years of experience in retail, merchandising, buying support, planning, allocation, store operations, or related business functions.
• Relevant internship, coordinator, analyst, or store leadership experience that demonstrates merchandising aptitude and execution discipline is valued.
• Experience with merchandising, reporting, or enterprise retail systems preferred.
• Experience coordinating with vendors and cross-functional business partners preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.

Skills

• Knowledge of retail merchandising principles and practices.
• Experience with merchandising, reporting, or enterprise retail systems.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive Annual Salary | Annual Bonus Opportunities
• Medical, Rx, Dental and Vision Benefits on Day 1
• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage
• Paid Vacation/Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Development
• Culture of Belonging: Support that starts on day one | Onboarding, training, and development to help you thrive | Recognition programs and employee events that bring us together
• 401k Plan with Company Matching Contributions at 90 days | Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Exclusive Biscuit Perks like discounts on home, travel, cell phones, and more!

Pay

Competitive Annual Salary | Annual Bonus Opportunities

Schedule

Full-time position