Associate Buyer

You support category strategy build your own vendor relationships and develop the analytical instincts that define a great buyer this is where buying careers are made at Backcountry.

As Associate Buyer you will own your PO process independently contribute a meaningful point of view to assortment decisions and represent Backcountry confidently in routine vendor conversations within your first 612 months.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot move fast and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

• Assist in seasonal assortment selection including pricing category and brand mix and inventory planning; analyze historical sales data and market trends to contribute a point of view to assortment decisions
• Manage day-to-day vendor communication; participate in seasonal term negotiations discounts and promotional windows with guidance from senior team members
• Mark vendor catalogs for SKU/PO worksheet creation; build POs (Qty/Dollar/Style Allocation Size/Color Breakout) under tight deadlines and ensure on-time submission; manage PO edits past dues and pre-season and ASAP builds with growing independence
• Support the promotional calendar with SKU selection rules page review and QA; react to promotional performance and contribute a point of view on what is and is not working
• Work with the Planner on pre-season inventory allocation in-season sell-through tracking and pricing strategy for slow movers
• Review and optimize product presentation on site pages including color thumbnails boost and sort order cross-sells backorder management and site taxonomy and facets
• Use AI tools (ChatGPT Claude Copilot or similar) to analyze assortment performance research competitive positioning draft promotional briefs and streamline PO workflows; validate outputs before applying them
• Support Assistant Buyers on administrative and operational processes; collaborate with Buyers and Sr. Buyers to execute shared category goals

• 23 years of relevant merchandising buying or inventory management experience
• Solid foundation in Retail Math and Buying Fundamentals
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; Excel proficiency required
• Excellent organizational skills and extreme attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable interpreting sales and inventory data
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable using AI tools (ChatGPT Claude Copilot or similar); able to prompt effectively and validate outputs

• Passion for outdoor activities and knowledge of outdoor gear and apparel

The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership move fast and want to see the direct impact of their work.

• Real Impact Early: Begin owning real category work assortment decisions vendor conversations and inventory strategy earlier than you would almost anywhere else in outdoor retail.
• Skill Building and Growth: Develop the full buying skill set on a team that invests in your progression and has a clear path to the next level including building AI fluency as a core professional skill.
• Ownership: Work alongside experienced buyers who take product seriously and bring genuine expertise to every category decision while trusting you to own your projects end to end.
• Competitive Benefits: Paid time off policies 401(k) match medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies and employee discounts across our portfolio of brands.

1. Recruiter Screen - A 30- to 45-minute conversation with our recruiting team to align on the role your background and what you are looking for.
2. Hiring Manager Interview - Conversation with the Buyer focused on your merchandising experience analytical approach and category instincts.
3. Case Discussion - A practical exercise exploring how you approach assortment decisions PO building or promotional analysis.
4. In-Person Interview - Wed like to meet you at our Cottonwood Heights office. Details and logistics will be arranged with your recruiter.
5. Reference Checks - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.
6. Offer - We move quickly for the right candidate.

Interview process is subject to change. Any updates will be communicated promptly and clearly.