Buyer (Limited Duration-18 months)
PURPOSE:
The Manager, Retail Buying (Buyer) plays a critical role in driving product strategy and execution across Canada Retail concepts. This role is responsible for optimizing market positioning, supporting brand vision, and achieving financial targets through effective merchandise planning. By leading seasonal assortment strategies and ensuring alignment with store tiering, consumer demand, and business objectives, this role directly contributes to sales growth, profitability and brand success in the Canadian market.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead pre-season strategy presentations to cross-functional teams—including Planning, Marketing, Brand Merchandising, and Retail Leadership—to validate assortment, financial plans, and promotional direction.
- Manage Category Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans that integrate key performance metrics such as category sales, margin, units, discount rates, average selling price (ASP), door counts, and sell through
- Develop and execute in-season buying strategies for retail channel, ensuring product assortments support financial goals and consumer needs.
- Partner with Marketing and Visual Merchandising to develop compelling in-store campaigns, quarterly directives, window displays, and promotional signage that reflect key product stories and brand initiatives.
- Collaborate with Merchandise Planning to align phasing, promotional and markdown strategies to maximize revenue, sell through and margin.
- Lead store capacity plans to ensure optimal Weeks of Supply (WOS) by category to achieve sales targets across all store tiers.
- Continuously enhance in-season inventory management processes, including allocation, transfers, and aged inventory, to ensure a healthy stock position.
- Monitor and manage inventory levels across Distribution Centers and stores to ensure timely receipt and delivery of product.
- Conduct seasonal performance analysis to inform future assortment planning, partnering closely with Category Business Units and the Buying leadership team.
- Conduct bi-weekly store visit and competitor market analysis
- Collaborate with District Managers and key store leaders to exchange insights that inform future merchandising assortments, keeping the consumer at the center of every decision.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
- Planning
- Store Teams
- Store Operations
- Demand Planning
- Business Unit
- Marketing
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
- Advanced proficiency in software applications such as MS Office
- Excellent verbal presentation and written communication skills with strong command of English language
- Knowledge expert of consumer trends, buying habits, retail environment and competition for assigned product categories
- Excellent analytical skills, thorough understanding of retail math and ability to understand and translate financial data to make recommendations and decisions
- Ability to accept and meet critical deadlines with good planning and organization skills
- Thorough understanding of managing and influencing Open to Buy metrics
- People leadership experience an asset
- Ability to travel up to 15% of the time (nationally, regionally)
REQUISITE EXPERIENCE:
- 3+ years related experience in buying, planning, and merchandising
adidas offers a robust and progressive range of benefits, including: health and dental benefits, including prescription drug coverage, out of country coverage, short and long-term disability, basic life and AD&D insurance, and an Employee & Family Assistance Program. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ Retirement Savings Plan with employer match. Qualifying employees are eligible for our education assistance program and fitness reimbursement program.
Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. We recognize the commitment of our employees by increasing vacation time with length of service. We also offer Service Awards & Service Time Off during milestone years, paid bereavement leave, and parental leave top-up to eligible employees.
At adidas we offer a Hybrid work policy which requires attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week. For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday. The is a remote role.
The anticipated low and high end of the base pay range for this position is $84,000-$92,000. Actual salary will be based on various factors, such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills and competencies, proficiency for the role.
Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.
adidas is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including those with Disabilities, and will accommodate applicants’ needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If selected to participate in an interview, accommodations will be made available on request. Please inform the Recruiter of the accommodation(s) that you may require. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially
At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage.
– Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You –
By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.