Buying Director

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Partnerships
• Identify, vet, and onboard both domestic and international manufacturing partners aligned with our quality, brand, and scaling needs
• Lead all vendor negotiations, including pricing, MOQs, timelines, and margin optimization, while maintaining strong, long-term relationships
• Build a supplier network that supports both agility (quick-turn opportunities) and long-term growth
• Establish clear standards for quality, sustainability, and reliability across all partners
• Product Development & Innovation
• Own the product development lifecycle from initial concept through sampling and final production approval
• Partner closely with Strategy & Planning, Creative, and Brand teams to ensure products reflect the heart of our storytelling while meeting functional and commercial expectations
• Identify whitespace opportunities and proactively bring new product ideas to life that resonate with our audience
• Balance trend-driven innovation with timeless, evergreen products that can scale
• Mercandising & Assortment Strategy
• Develop seasonal and ongoing assortment strategies that balance “hype” drops with core, high-performing products
• Leverage data, fan insights, and cultural trends to inform assortment decisions
• Continuously refine the product mix based on performance, feedback, and evolving audience behavior
• Inventory, Planning & Business Performance
• Partner with Finance, Operations, and Strategy & Planning to manage Open-to-Buy (OTB), forecasting, and inventory strategy
• Own key business metrics, including revenue, margin, inventory turn, and sell-through
• Monitor performance and proactively adjust strategies to capitalize on opportunities or mitigate risk
• Build systems and processes that create visibility and scalability across the business
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Act as a key partner across Creative, Marketing, DTC, Operations, and Finance to bring products to life end-to-end
• Ensure strong alignment from concept through launch, including storytelling, merchandising, and go-to-market execution
• Serve as a product and customer advocate in cross-functional conversations
• Help build a strong, collaborative, and solutions-oriented culture within a growing team

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, or a related field
• 7–10+ years of experience in buying, merchandising, or product development, ideally within a DTC or high-growth environment
• Proven track record of scaling a product category or brand from 0 to 1 (or 1 to 10)
• Strong understanding of global sourcing, logistics, customs, and compliance
• Experience building and managing vendor relationships, including negotiating pricing, MOQs, and timelines
• Proficiency in PLM systems, Excel, and Shopify (or similar e-commerce platforms)
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with experience managing OTB, inventory, and margin
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a fast-moving, build-stage environment