Jr. Buyer

**Overview**

Interested in joining the Toronto Blue Jays Merchandise Buying Team? Here's your opportunity

The Toronto Blue Jays are seeking a Junior Buyer to join our team.

Reporting to the Manager, Buying the Junior Buyer will manage merchandise strategy, product selection, pricing, and promotions to drive sales. You'll focus on maximizing sales and profit margins in alignment with the business goals of our merchandising categories. This role involves close collaboration with retail and warehouse operations to ensure smooth execution of all Toronto Blue Jays Merchandising initiatives.

**This role may be for you if**:

- You enjoy motivating and inspiring others.
- You thrive in hands-on roles and are eager to tackle new challenges.
- Fast-paced environments excite you.
- You're a dedicated fan of the Toronto Blue Jays

**Responsibilities**

**Financial Planning & Category Strategy**
- Work with the Manager, Buying to develop and execute merchandise strategies, choose product assortments, set prices, and plan promotions to meet business goals.
- Manage product selection across stores while ensuring each location reflects our assortment.
- Determine optimal product quantities and distribution to maximize sales and profitability.
- Assist with monthly planning to forecast sales, inventory, orders, and profitability.
- Help create seasonal store layouts to enhance product presentation.

**Drive Sales, Profit, and Support Inventory Management**
- Communicate product strategies to Retail, Marketing, and other departments seasonally and as needed.
- Support retail stores with product information, presentation guidelines, and inventory requirements.
- Assess product performance by visiting stores to review assortment, allocation, and presentation.
- Analyze and recommend markdowns, write-offs, and return strategies to manage inventory effectively.
- Assist in setting product prices to achieve profit margins and implement exit strategies.
- Stay informed on all player call-ups and team performance, to contribute to the success of the business.
- Communicate and liaise with the Merchandise Coordinator and Warehouse team as it applies to the purchase, delivery, receipt, ticketing, processing, pricing, and quality of merchandise.

**Vendor Management & Internal Collaboration**
- Manage vendor relationships to secure competitive prices, products, and timely shipments.
- Collaborate with the Buying Manager in negotiating new vendor contracts.
- Negotiate return to vendor (RTV), markdowns, and discounts.
- Act as a liaison between merchandising and internal partners to support partnership merchandising requests.

**Reporting**
- Create and analyze reports including Open-to-Buy (OTB), Assortment Plans, Open Orders, and Category sales to drive category performance.
- Optimize sales, inventory levels (product & store) and gross margin dollars by analyzing, evaluating, recommending, negotiating, and executing adjustments as needed with stakeholders (sr. managers, vendors, planning team, retail team, warehouse team).

**Qualifications**
- Passionate about Baseball, the Blue Jays brand and a love for fashion.
- 1-2 years of experience in Merchandising, Buying, or Category Management.
- Basic knowledge of purchasing principles and practices, with a focus on financial KPI’s including KPIs including sales, gross profit, and inventory.
- Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
- Effective negotiation skills with a focus on building vendor relationships.
- Ability to collaborate across departments and influence others positively.
- Able to work independently and make impactful decisions.
- Thrives in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
- Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and openness to feedback.
- Clear communication skills with team members, leadership, and vendors.
- Willingness to travel within Canada and the USA.
- Available to work all event games such as: Opening Day, Opening Day Weekend, Canada Day, Pride, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Double Headers and concerts. You will also be part of an alternating game day on-call schedule which may include evenings and weekends.

**What We Offer**
- Commitment to our team - we want you to succeed
- Ongoing, hands-on training to help you enhance your skills.
- Excellent employee discount to use towards Blue Jays gear.
- A unique employment experience working for the only MLB team in Canada.