Head Buyer

Head Buyer / Purchasing Director

Location: New York, NY

Team Size: Direct oversight of team of Buyers

About the Role

A prominent, large-scale enterprise in NYC is seeking a seasoned Head Buyer to lead, structure, and elevate our purchasing operations. This role is designed for a veteran buying professional who pairs deep market and procurement expertise with exceptional executive leadership. Reporting directly to the Head Merchant, you will be responsible for driving overall purchasing strategy while actively managing, coaching, and developing a core team of 3 to 6 buyers.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Oversee day-to-day operations for a team of 3–6 buyers. Coach team members, set performance standards, and build a high-accountability environment.
• Operational Management: Establish streamlined buying processes, standardize workflows, and maintain structured buying schedules to meet company goals.
• Strategic Purchasing: Drive core procurement strategy alongside the Head Merchant, optimizing margins, vendor terms, inventory turnover, and product selection.
• Cross-Departmental Communication: Work seamlessly with merchandising, planning, and executive leadership to align purchasing targets with broader sales and business strategies.
• Vendor & Performance Analytics: Oversee high-level vendor negotiations and track team KPIs, inventory accuracy, and budget compliance.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: Extensive, multi-year track record as a senior buyer with proven experience managing or supervising a buying team.
• Leadership & Management: Excellent managerial, mentorship, and coaching skills with a history of developing talent and maintaining operational structure.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities; skilled at cross-functional alignment and executive reporting.
• Buying Expertise: Master-level understanding of vendor negotiations, margin strategy, inventory control, and supply chain dynamics.
• Mindset: Highly organized, decisive, and proactive, with the executive presence needed to drive performance in a high-volume environment.
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