Senior Buyer

AKIRA Senior Buyer In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 40+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com). AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand. AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company. Position: Senior Buyer Location: Chicago, IL (On-site) Position Overview: AKIRA is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Buyer to lead the merchandise assortment and buying strategy across multiple product categories. This individual will drive product vision, assortment planning, and inventory investment decisions to deliver compelling, trend-right product offerings that maximize sales, margin, and customer engagement across both retail stores and eCommerce. The ideal candidate combines a strong fashion instinct with analytical rigor, leveraging customer insights, trend forecasting, and business performance data to make informed merchandising decisions. This role will lead and develop a team of buyers and assistant buyers while partnering closely with Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Creative, and Production to execute category growth strategies and achieve company objectives. Key Responsibilities: Develop and execute seasonal and annual buying strategies aligned with company sales, margin, and inventory goals. Own category performance, including sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, sell-through, turn, and markdown management. Possess a strong fashion point of view and keen eye for trend, product, and styling. Create compelling assortments that balance trend, fashion authority, customer demand, and commercial opportunity. Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, customer insights, and sales performance to identify growth opportunities and assortment gaps. Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, inventory investments, and seasonal SKU productivity. Partner with vendors and manufacturers to negotiate pricing, delivery timelines, exclusives, and margin-enhancing opportunities. Build and maintain strong vendor relationships while identifying and onboarding new strategic partners. Collaborate cross-functionally to shape private label opportunities and category expansion initiatives. Drive pricing architecture and assortment strategies that support both sales growth and profitability objectives. Monitor product lifecycle performance and develop action plans around replenishment, markdown optimization, and inventory risk mitigation. Work cross-functionally with Marketing and E-Commerce teams to support product launches, promotional campaigns, and key brand initiatives. Ensure a cohesive product experience across retail stores and digital channels. Lead, mentor, and develop Buyers and Assistant Buyers, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. Travel domestically and internationally, as needed. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, or a related field. 7+ years of buying, merchandising, or category management experience within fashion retail. Proven success managing multiple product categories and delivering sales and margin growth. Demonstrated ability to identify, interpret, and anticipate emerging fashion trends Strong understanding of assortment planning, inventory management, Open-to-Buy planning, and retail financial metrics. Experience negotiating cost, margin, production timelines, and business terms with domestic and international vendors. Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams. Strong analytical skills…

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