Head of Buying - North America

JOB DESCRIPTION

HEAD OF BUYING – NORTH AMERICA

Department: Merchandising & Buying
Location: New York, NY
Reports to: President North America
Functional Reporting: HQ Buying Director
Geographic Scope: United States & Canada

Travel requirements: Domestic/International (25-30%)
Level: TBD

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Head of Buying – North America is responsible for defining and executing the regional buying strategy to drive sales growth, profitability, and inventory efficiency across the North American retail network.

Working closely with the HQ Buying and Merchandising teams, the role ensures that global collections are translated into commercially relevant assortments tailored to local consumer preferences, while maintaining the brand's identity and positioning.

The position oversees buying across all product categories, optimizing product selection, buying investments, and inventory performance. It also provides market insights and commercial feedback to influence global merchandising decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Buying Strategy & Assortment Development

• Define and execute the seasonal buying strategy in alignment with global brand direction and regional financial objectives.

• Lead seasonal buying campaigns, optimizing product selection, category mix, and depth of investment.

• Tailor assortments by store, market, and customer profile to maximize commercial performance.

• Balance seasonal fashion products, key commercial styles, and carryover items.

• Identify product opportunities, assortment gaps, and potential regional exclusives.

• Define product assortments for new store openings and key commercial initiatives.

2. Buying Budget & Financial Performance

• Manage and challenge the regional Open-to-Buy (OTB), ensuring investments are supported by sales forecasts, historical performance, and inventory productivity.

• Optimize buying investments to maximize sales, gross margin, and full-price sell-through.

• Monitor key KPIs, including sales, sell-through, markdowns, stock turn, and inventory aging.

• Partner with Finance and HQ Buying teams on seasonal budgets, forecasts, and buying adjustments.

• Identify opportunities to improve inventory efficiency and minimize overstock.

3. Product Performance & Inventory Management

• Conduct regular product performance reviews by category, SKU, and store.

• Identify best sellers, underperforming products, and emerging commercial opportunities.

• Recommend replenishment, stock transfers, allocation adjustments, and markdown strategies.

• Collaborate with Planning, Allocation, and Retail teams to optimize inventory distribution and product availability.

• Provide product knowledge and training support to retail teams.

4. Market Intelligence & Global Collaboration

• Develop a strong understanding of North American consumer preferences, market trends, and competitive positioning.

• Regularly visit stores and engage with retail teams to gather customer and product feedback.

• Act as the key regional contact for HQ Buying and Merchandising teams.

• Represent North America during seasonal buying sessions and merchandising reviews.

• Communicate regional product needs and commercial insights to influence future collection development.

• Partner with Retail leadership to align buying decisions with store performance and business priorities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in buying or merchandising within the premium, contemporary, or luxury fashion industry.

• Strong ready-to-wear expertise, with a particular focus on Men's RTW.

• Solid understanding of the North American fashion market and consumer behavior.

• Experience working with international brands and centralized global merchandising teams.

• Strong financial and analytical skills, including OTB management, assortment planning, and inventory performance.