Senior Buyer / Inventory Planner

LOCATION Vaughan, ON or Belleville, ON The Opportunity HockeyStickMan is looking for an experienced Inventory & Strategic purchaser to take ownership of a significant portion of our inventory purchasing strategy and management. This is a newly created role and we are looking for someone that will work closely with the owner, with the expectation of gradually taking over key inventory planning and purchasing responsibilities currently managed by ownership. The core mandate is straightforward: help HockeyStickMan buy the right products, in the right quantities, at the right time. The successful candidate will combine strong inventory analysis with practical purchasing experience and commercial judgment. They will work closely with ownership, Sales, Procurement, Operations and Finance while gradually assuming purchasing responsibilities that currently sit with the company's President/Owner. Key Responsibilities Own inventory planning and strategic purchasing for assigned product categories, with a focus on third-party retail, pro and closeout inventory. (Including new and used inventory) Analyze sales history, inventory levels, sales velocity, seasonality, supplier lead times, stockouts, incoming inventory and other demand signals to determine purchasing requirements. Develop purchasing recommendations covering what to buy, how much to buy and when to place orders. Build and maintain reorder points, safety-stock assumptions and replenishment methodologies appropriate to different product categories. Use NetSuite and available demand-planning tools to improve forecasting, replenishment and purchasing decisions. Monitor inventory health, including stock availability, weeks/months of supply, slow-moving inventory, excess inventory and potential stockout risks. Partner with Sales and leadership to incorporate promotions, category priorities, expected demand changes and commercial opportunities into purchasing plans. Work with vendors on purchasing programs, availability, lead times, order timing and other commercial considerations. Provide visibility to leadership on upcoming purchasing requirements, inventory commitments, risks and opportunities. Strategically allocating inventory across our multiple locations and retail stores. Continuously improve the data, tools and processes used to make purchasing decisions and reduce reliance on owner knowledge or intuition. Work closely with the Procurement Specialist so that purchasing decisions are translated into accurate POs and reliable open-order data. Supporting the Operations Department with improved information and inventory management workflows Over time, assume meaningful purchasing responsibilities currently managed directly by the President/Owner. What We Are Looking For 5+ years of relevant experience in inventory planning, purchasing, merchandising, buying, demand planning, supply chain or a related field. Proven experience making or materially influencing inventory purchasing decisions in a retail, wholesale, distribution or e-commerce environment. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate sales and inventory data into practical purchasing decisions. Experience with forecasting, reorder points, lead times, safety stock, inventory turns and excess/slow-moving inventory analysis. Strong Excel skills and experience using ERP and/or demand-planning systems; NetSuite experience is a strong asset. Sound commercial judgment and the ability to balance product availability, inventory investment, margin and cash flow. Comfort working independently and taking accountability for recommendations and decisions in a growing, entrepreneurial business. Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with ownership, Sales, Operations, Finance and vendors. Experience in sporting goods, apparel, footwear or another SKU-intensive retail environment is an asset. This is a hybrid role and will be in office 2 - 3 days a week What Success Looks Like Purchasing decisions become …

View the full posting and apply