Senior Buyer

About the role

Become part of the Aperture Team. Aperture Pet & Life is a global leader in helping saltwater and freshwater aquarists be successful through exceptional products with our banner brands of EcoTech, Neptune, AquaIllumination, AquaReady, and HelloReef sold in 50+ countries, through the industry’s leading online marketplace, Bulk Reef Supply, with one of the largest YouTube followings in the entire pet industry and our world-class distribution. We look for people who are curious, collaborative, innovative, and driven to make an impact. Our culture thrives by putting the customer at the center. At Aperture, it’s about each person bringing their own unique skills and passion to a thriving and constantly evolving environment.

What we are looking for

The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading assigned product categories by developing and executing merchandising strategies that drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction. This role owns the full category lifecycle, including assortment planning, purchasing, vendor management, pricing, inventory optimization, and product lifecycle management.

Success in this role

• Requires balancing customer needs, business performance, and vendor partnerships to deliver long-term category growth.

What you'll do

Category Management & Strategy

• Own and develop merchandising strategies for assigned product categories to drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Own the financial performance of assigned categories, including sales growth, gross margin, inventory productivity, and profitability.
• 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.
• Develop annual category strategies, business objectives, and growth initiatives.

Vendor Management

• 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.

Purchasing & Inventory Management

• Forecast inventory requirements and manage purchasing to support customer demand while maintaining healthy inventory levels.
• Create, manage, and monitor purchase orders from placement through receipt.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to improve inventory turns, reduce stockouts, and minimize excess inventory.
• Maintain supplier lead times, fill rates, and purchasing performance.

Merchandising & Pricing

• Develop pricing strategies that maximize margin while remaining competitive within the marketplace.
• Manage 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.

Category Analytics

• 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.

Product & Data Management

• Oversee the complete product lifecycle, including new product onboarding, ERP setup, product updates, and SKU discontinuation.
• Ensure product, pricing, vendor, and inventory data remain accurate across all systems.
• Maintain product information and merchandising content that support the customer experience.

Market Intelligence

• Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, customer insights, and emerging technologies.
• Identify new brands, products, and market opportunities that strengthen Aperture's competitive position.
• Recommend assortment enhancements based on market research and customer feedback.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Product Development, Customer Service, and eCommerce 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Aperture Offers

• Competitive benefits, including health insurance, a 401(k) match, and a diverse and inclusive culture with boundless opportunities for personal and professional development.