Senior Buyer

About the role

Come join the Aperture Team! Aperture Pet & Life is a leading manufacturer, online retailer, and distributor serving the pet industry with a focus on aquatic products and solutions. We engineer and manufacture innovative aquarium technology in the USA while providing the products, educational resources, and expert support that help aquarists create thriving aquatic ecosystems through the industry’s leading online retailer.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop merchandising strategies for assigned product categories to drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Manage category performance through assortment planning, product lifecycle management, and continuous optimization.
• Identify opportunities for category expansion, product rationalization, and innovation based on customer demand and market trends.
• Forecast inventory requirements and manage purchasing to support customer demand while maintaining healthy inventory levels.
• Develop annual category strategies, business objectives, and growth initiatives.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with domestic and international suppliers.
• Lead negotiations for pricing, rebates, freight programs, promotional funding, payment terms, and annual business agreements.
• Conduct regular business reviews with key vendor partners to evaluate performance and identify growth opportunities.
• Resolve supplier issues while maintaining positive long-term relationships.
• Develop pricing strategies that maximize margin while remaining competitive within the marketplace.
• Monitor MAP compliance and monitor competitive pricing.
• Plan promotional calendars, product launches, and merchandising initiatives in collaboration with the Marketing team.
• Recommend promotional opportunities based on sales performance and market conditions.
• Analyze category performance through sales, margin, inventory turns, GMROI, forecasting, and profitability metrics.
• Utilize reporting tools and data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Present recommendations and action plans to leadership based on business performance.
• Oversee the complete product lifecycle, including new product onboarding, ERP setup, product updates, and SKU discontinuation.
• Maintain product, pricing, vendor, and inventory data across all systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute category initiatives.
• Support new product launches, promotional campaigns, vendor events, and strategic business initiatives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts that enhance merchandising processes and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in buying, category management, and merchandising, preferably within retail or eCommerce.
• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies that drive sales, profitability, and inventory performance.
• Demonstrated success managing vendor relationships, negotiating pricing, annual agreements, promotional funding, and business terms.
• Experience analyzing sales performance, gross margin, inventory turns, GMROI, forecasting, and other merchandising KPIs to make data-driven business decisions.
• Experience forecasting demand and partnering with inventory planning or supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels and improve product availability.
• Experience working with ERP systems. Sage experience is preferred but not required.
• On-site position based at the Aperture LLC office in Minnesota.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for driving results.
• Collaborative team player with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (PivotTables, XLOOKUP, and data analysis); proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Able to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Active saltwater and/or freshwater aquarium hobbyist with a genuine passion for the aquarium industry.

Skills

• Data-driven decision-making.
• Strategic merchandising.
• Vendor management.
• Pricing strategy development.
• Inventory optimization.
• New product launch coordination.
• Market intelligence gathering.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package including health insurance, a 401(k) match, and a diverse and inclusive culture with boundless opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Compensation range: $82,000 - $89,000 annually.