Buyer I - Climb

About the Role: You own a real category at Backcountry — your brand portfolio, your seasonal assortment, your vendor relationships — and you execute with full accountability within a framework set by the senior team. As Buyer I , you will manage a focused portfolio of 10–20 brands and approximately 5,000–10,000 active SKUs, building seasonal assortments, negotiating vendor terms, and driving category productivity.

At 6–12 months, success looks like a productive, well-managed category, vendor relationships you have built and can depend on, and a buying team that is stronger because of your direction.

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

What You'll Do: Build seasonal assortments using historical sales data and vendor input; maintain a productive core assortment within an established category framework for a focused brand portfolio within a pre-set OTB

Own existing vendor relationships; execute negotiations on seasonal terms, discounts, and promotional windows with guidance from senior team members

Create SKU/PO worksheets and build POs (Qty/Dollar/Style Allocation, Size/Color Breakout) under tight deadlines, ensuring accurate, on-time submission to vendors

Collaborate with Marketing on promotional calendars; react quickly to promotional performance and execute visual merchandising direction from the senior team

Monitor SKU and brand performance; manage re-orders (ASAPs) and order reductions (Edits); support exit strategies for slow movers in partnership with Planning

Use AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or similar) to summarize performance data, draft content, streamline PO workflows, and accelerate decisions; validate outputs and apply them with judgment

Provide task-level direction and development support to Associate and Assistant Buyers on day-to-day buying processes

Required Qualifications: Typically 1–4 years of buying or equivalent merchandising experience

Firm understanding of retail math and buying fundamentals

Strong analytical skills with developing negotiation capabilities

Excellent organizational skills and extreme attention to detail

Outstanding time management skills; ability to prioritize competing tasks and initiatives

Proficient in Microsoft Office; Excel proficiency required

Comfortable using AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or similar); prompts effectively and validates outputs

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Willingness and ability to travel as needed

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

Team Impact: Provide direction and development support to Associate and Assistant Buyers, strengthening the team through your day-to-day leadership of buying processes.

Skill Development: Build negotiation and vendor management skills under the guidance of one of the most experienced buying teams in outdoor e-commerce, with a defined path to Buyer II.

Ownership: Own a real category from day one — not a support role, not a rotation, but a portfolio of brands and a seasonal assortment that is yours to run, with a direct line between your buying decisions and business outcomes.

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.

Interview Process: 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.

Hiring Manager Interview - Conversation with your hiring manager focused on category management experience, vendor relationship approach, and buying fundamentals.

In-Person Interview - We'd like to meet you at our Cottonwood Heights office. Details and logistics will be arranged with your recruiter.

Reference Checks - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.

Offer - We move quickly for the right candidate.

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