Assistant Buyer job description template
If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.
What is an Assistant Buyer?
Assistant Buyer is a professional who provides direct support and assistance to the Buyer in retail, fashion, and other industries.
They help Buyers make purchasing decisions and other aspects of the buying process.
They are responsible for placing and monitoring purchase orders, researching new potential vendors and suppliers, and coordinating with existing suppliers to ensure fair trading and timely delivery of supplies.
Assistant Buyers also manage budgets for shipping and other purchasing expenses, prepare reports of market research, product performance, and customer feedback, and assist in preparing pricing strategies.
The top Assistant Buyer skills.
Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.
The job description, ready to post.
Copy it as written, or edit it until it sounds like your company. Both work.
We are looking for an organized Assistant Buyer to join our company. In this position, you will be working directly with the Buyer providing assistance with purchasing decisions and other aspects of the buying process. You will be responsible for placing, tracking, and monitoring purchase orders, maintaining inventory levels, and performing quality checks on products, materials, and other goods. Additionally, you will assist in preparing pricing strategies and prepare budgets for labor costs, shipping, and other expenses.
Your job will also be to build professional relationships with our suppliers and vendors, negotiate suitable purchasing conditions, and research new potential suppliers that fit our company’s profile and needs. You will ensure the timely delivery of products and goods and write reports on market research, product performance, and customer feedback.
Ultimately, our ideal Assistant Buyer should have outstanding communication, negotiation, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
Duties and responsibilities
- Support the Buyer in the company’s purchasing decisions and other aspects of the buying process
- Research new suppliers, vendors, and products and make recommendations to the Buyer
- Place, track, and monitor purchase orders
- Assist in preparing pricing strategies
- Oversee and maintain inventory levels
- Manage budgets for labor costs, shipping, and other expenses related to the purchase
- Negotiate prices and conditions with suppliers to ensure staying within budget guidelines
- Coordinate with vendors and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of products and goods
- Analyze bids to determine which offer best fits the company’s needs
- Coordinate with designers and other professionals to establish specific colors and materials for purchase orders
- Prepare reports on product performance, market research, and customer feedback
- Perform quality control checks on products and goods
- Perform additional administrative duties assigned by the Buyer
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, finance, or business
- Previous working experience in the retail or merchandising industry
- Proficiency with MS Office and merchandising software systems
- The ability to research and identify industry trends
- Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
- Multitasking and working under pressure
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent organization
Take the template with you
Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.
What education this role needs.
Even though it is possible to become an Assistant Buyer with just a high school diploma or GED, the majority of companies still prefer candidates that have a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, finance, or another related field.
Previous working experience in retail or merchandising is often a requirement for Assistant Buyers.
Candidates can gain experience and industry knowledge through internships or entry-level jobs.
Sample interview questions for an Assistant Buyer.
Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.
- What are some of your personal traits?
- If you weren’t an Assistant Buyer, what would you like to be?
- Are there any fashion trends that you currently follow?
- Why do you want to join our company in particular?
- Could you tell us about your relevant working experience so far?
- What skills do you possess that make you a suitable applicant for this position?
- How would you handle a purchasing or delivery problem?
- What is your process of liaising and negotiating with suppliers and vendors?
- What is your experience with monitoring and maintaining inventory levels?
- Do you have any experience using merchandising software systems?
- What features should you consider when purchasing new products?
- How would you incorporate customer feedback into future purchasing strategies?
How much to pay when hiring.
Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.
Hourly equivalents run from $12 at the 10th percentile to $27 at the 90th.
Candidates may apply under a different name.
Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.
Three titles, one description.
Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.
Procurement Manager
Frequently asked questions.
What do Assistant Buyers do?
Assistant Buyers are responsible for supporting Buyers in purchasing decisions and other aspects of the buying process within the company.
They place and track purchase orders, maintain inventory levels, prepare budgets and expenses, and negotiate prices with suppliers and vendors.
Where do Assistant Buyers work?
Assistant Buyers can work in a variety of retail and merchandise settings, such as retail stores, fashion agencies, departments of marketing, sales, customer service, department stores, electronic companies, etc.
What skills should Assistant Buyers have?
Assistant Buyers should have exceptional communication, negotiation, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
How much do Assistant Buyers earn per year?
Assistant Buyers earn between $24,000 and $56,000 annually.
Other job description templates.
Same format, same free, same median pay data. Browse the full library if the role you are hiring for is not here.