Buyer, Bike Hard Goods

Job description

Adventure is our Culture. Join a team that celebrates a lifestyle as bold as the terrain we love. At Backcountry, we are rooted in adventure, recognition, and wellbeing on and off the mountain. We spotlight employee stories, celebrate milestones, and offer exclusive outdoor perks. Whether you are at HQ, in a retail store, or remote, you will be part of a team that thrives on energy, exploration, and connection. **Reports to:** VP, Merchandising **Location:** Cottonwood Heights, Utah (Hybrid - 3x/week in-office) ### About the Role: This role owns assortment strategy, vendor negotiations, and inventory for Bike Hard Goods — complete bikes, frames, and the components that build and upgrade them — across Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, and Competitive Cyclist. As **Buyer, Bike Hard Goods**, you will decide which bikes and parts our customers ride and build with every season. Within your first 6–12 months, you will have built strong vendor relationships across both bike and component brands, contributed to a well-balanced and technically sound assortment on each banner, and become a reliable technical resource for component-level compatibility within the team. 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: - Develop and implement a comprehensive sourcing strategy for bike hard goods — complete bikes, frames, and components (drivetrains, wheels, brakes, suspension, cockpit, and pedals) — across Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, and Competitive Cyclist, ensuring technically sound product is available to customers on each banner. - Source and assess merchandise spanning complete bikes, frames, and individual components, factoring in market trends, cross-component compatibility, and current and historical selling history across all three brands. - Build and maintain vendor relationships across both bike brands and component manufacturers, negotiating discounts, terms, and promotional windows while identifying and evaluating potential new vendors. - Create SKU/PO worksheets and build purchase orders (quantity/dollar/style allocation, size/color breakout) under tight deadlines, negotiating pricing, terms, and volume discounts to optimize cost and profitability. - Apply deep technical knowledge of bike and component systems — drivetrains, groupsets, brakes, wheels/tires, suspension, cockpit/contact points, and frame standards — to ensure assortment compatibility and spec accuracy, and to answer technical questions from vendors, planning, and customer-facing teams. - Review SKU/brand/category performance for future opportunities, establish receipt flow, set sell-through targets, and manage inventory through re-orders and order reductions; partner with Planning on exit strategy for slow movers. - Partner with Marketing on selling strategy, promotion concepts, the promotional calendar, boosting/sort order review, and visual merchandising to maximize sales. - Utilize sales data, market trends, and customer insights to forecast demand, anticipate future needs, and develop effective procurement plans. - Monitor KPIs, analyze buying trends, evaluate vendor performance, and propose strategies for improvement to achieve sales targets and maximize profitability. - Partner closely with the Senior Buyer and Planning partner to support departmental initiatives and goals. ### Required Qualifications: - 4–7 years of buying experience. - Strong, hands-on technical knowledge of bikes, frames, and components — drivetrains, groupsets, brake systems, wheel/tire standards, suspension, cockpit/contact points, frame geometry and material — and the ability to evaluate cross-component and build-kit compatibility. - Deep understanding of the cycling/outdoor retail market, customer preferences, and industry dynamics. - Proven experience in inventory management, demand forecasting, and optimizing procurement processes. - Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with demonstrated negotiation skills. - Firm understanding of retail math fundamentals. - Excellent organizational skills with extreme attention to detail and the ability to prioritize competing tasks. - Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong collaborator. - Proficient in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel; experience with purchasing software and systems. - Working knowledge of AI tools and their practical application in merchandising workflows (e.g., demand forecasting, assortment planning, trend analysis, or reporting). - Willingness and ability to travel as needed. ### Preferred Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. - E-commerce and/or bike industry buying experience. - Genuine passion for cycling and a deep interest in the products we offer. ### 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. - **Cross-Functional Impact:** Your assortment decisions touch three banners and shape the product experience for every cyclist who shops with us — working alongside planning, marketing, and operations teams. - **Skill Building:** Deepen your buying expertise across a technical, component-rich category while leveraging AI tools and modern merchandising workflows. - **Ownership:** Own end-to-end responsibility for vendor relationships, assortment strategy, and inventory performance across a portfolio of cycling brands. - **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: 1. **Recruiter Screen** - A 45-minute conversation with our recruiting team to align on the role, your background, and what you are looking for. 2. **Hiring Manager Interview** - Conversation with the VP, Merchandising focused on your buying experience, technical product knowledge, and approach to vendor management. 3. **Panel Interview** - A conversation with cross-functional stakeholders from Planning and Operations to assess collaboration and alignment. 4. **Take-Home Assignment** - A merchandising and analytical exercise to evaluate your approach to assortment planning and data-driven decision-making. 5. **In-Person Interview** - We'd like to meet you at our Cottonwood Heights office. Details and logistics will be arranged with your recruiter. 6. **Reference Checks** - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible. 7. **Offer** - We move quickly for the right candidate. *Interview process is subject to change. Any updates will be communicated promptly and clearly.* ### Please Note: - Part of our interview process is a **mandatory in-person interview** with someone on our team prior to an offer. Candidates that are unwilling or unable to meet for an in-person interview will be removed from consideration immediately.