Job Description
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Create a healthier, brighter future for pets, pet parents and people! If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you. Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets, people and our planet. We love all pets like our own We’re the future of the pet industry We’re here to improve lives We drive outstanding results together We’re welcome as we are Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and Petco partners. We are 29,000 strong and operate 1,500+ pet care centers in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. We’re focused on purpose-driven work, and strongly believe what’s good for pets, people and our planet is good for Petco. The Buyer is the day-to-day owner of category performance, product newness, and assortment execution across 1–2 departments. As a merchant who blends trend fluency, product taste, and strong financial skills, the Buyer drives the seasonal and in-season management of their business while orchestrating cross-functional partners to bring owned brand and market brand strategies to life. The role sits one level below the Senior Buyer and plays a critical part in scaling newness, design differentiation, and value. The Buyer partners tightly with Owned Brands, Sourcing, Planning, Supply Chain, Stores & eCom, and Marketing to deliver a compelling, consumer-obsessed assortment with speed. Key Responsibilities Category Ownership & Strategy Execution Own day-to-day category management, item-level productivity, and in-season decision-making for designated departments. Translate strategic direction from the DMM and Senior Buyer into actionable seasonal plans, assortment frameworks, and product stories. Identify immediate opportunities in trend, color, material, silhouette, and consumer behavior to inject newness and relevance into the assortment. Conduct competitive, marketplace, and style/price architecture analysis to maintain category authority. Assortment Planning & Product Excellence Lead line reviews, SKU rationalization, and in-season adjustments to maintain balance between innovation, basics, design, and value. Partner with Product Design, Product Innovation, and Sourcing to develop owned brand items that are trend-right, margin-right, and uniquely differentiated. Ensure items meet brand standards and support innovation, storytelling, and price ladder consistency. Vendor Management & Sourcing Partnership Manage day-to-day vendor communication, negotiations, costing rounds, and production updates. Support strategic vendor matrix decisions, helping scale partners that deliver speed, innovation, and strong value. Financial Ownership & In-Season Management Own sales forecasting, in-season business management, and margin delivery for assigned departments. Partner with Planning on inventory strategy, OTB management, demand shifts, and risk/opportunity identification. Optimize pricing strategies, promotional plans, laddering, and margin levers to drive profitable growth. Monitor weekly KPIs (sell-through, turn, margin rate, receipt flow) and take action to course-correct quickly. Cross-Functional Leadership Act as the category orchestrator, ensuring alignment across Design, Product Innovation, Sourcing, Packaging, Planning, Supply Chain, Digital, Marketing, Stores and eCom. Drive go-to-market readiness: content needs, packaging coordination, visual merchandising direction, and launch cadence. Ensure on-time, accurate, and cohesive execution across channels. Team Leadership & Talent Development Lead and develop Associate Buyers and/or Assistant Buyers. Provide day-to-day coaching, workload guidance, and skill-building in trend, negotiation, financial acumen, and product taste. Model a culture of speed, curiosity, creativity, and accountability. Required Experience & Qualifications 4–7+ years of buying or merchandising experience in retail, ideally with owned brand or trend-driven categories. Strong product sense, trend awareness, design literacy, and consumer curiosity. Proven experience in assortment planning, vendor management, and financial analysis. Highly collaborative; thrives in fast-moving, cross-functional environments. Skilled in retail math, in-season management, negotiation, and product evaluation. Experience managing or mentoring junior talent preferred. Success Profile: Product Obsessed: Constantly identifying newness and what’s next. Trend Aware: Spots shifts early and acts with urgency. Financially Grounded: Understands the business inside-out and manages KPIs tightly. Design-Forward: Appreciates aesthetics, quality, and innovation. Collaborative Driver: Orchestrates cross-functional teams with clarity and speed. People Developer: Invests in junior talent and
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