Career Opportunities

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks a Retail Stores, Buyer to join the RISD store group. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team whose mission is to support the creative pursuits of our students and customers through a unique, inspiring and informative shopping experience.

The Retail Stores, Buyer is responsible for the efficient, accurate and fiscally prudent procurement of merchandise and goods for resale. With a lens of inclusion, proactively research, identify, recommend, and secure products based on the needs and interests of a diverse community and/or new and emerging trends. The person in this position will ensure product mix is representative of a premiere Art and Design school. From inception to sale, the Buyer is responsible for product success and must collaborate on marketing and sales initiatives. The incumbent provides product sales and performance analysis and dashboards to the Director to include serves as an active member of a dynamic retail team and part of the greater RISD community.

We seek applications from equity-minded candidates who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions:

• With an understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse needs of RISD Retail clientele, identify, source, negotiate, procure, and manage the product merchandising/marketing for a dynamic mix of products; ensure availability, premier quality, and competitive pricing of new, emerging and existing products which enable the store to achieve all of its strategic goals. Provides product sales and performance analysis and dashboards to the director to inform and support sales trends and future buying decisions.
  
• Responsible for vendor management, including but not limited to cultivating and maintaining strong relations with vendors and vendor representatives; ensuring that vendors are educated and supportive of RISD mission and position within Art and Design colleges. Attend events that feature product mix to stay abreast of market. Regularly schedule vendor demonstrations, vendor fairs and leverage vendors support to maximize product knowledge and exposure.
  
• Continually develop relationships within RISD's diverse campus community, including students, faculty, technicians, and administrative staff in order to understand needs and serve as a product expert who can represent constituencies, identify procurement opportunities, and create efficiencies/economies of scale. Be aware of and actively participate in campus activities, committees, and retail programming.
  
• Participate in the day-to-day retail operations, including, but not limited to providing quality customer service by waiting on customers directly and by answering technical inquiries in a courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable manner. Provide sales floor coverage, as needed. May actively participate in receiving of merchandise and with opening and closing procedures as needed/scheduled. Works to educate floor sales staff on products.
  
• Perform administrative tasks associated with ordering and receiving documentation.
  

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• Excellent negotiating skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong math and analytic skills.
• Strong computer skills and data-base knowledge, including Microsoft Office Suite and other standard office programs and point-of-sale systems.
• Ability to purchase supplies/products which represent a diverse group of constituents with varying needs/interests.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written formats with multiple diverse populations, with demonstrated knowledge and skill to engage across a wide variety of individual differences and identities through meaningful interactions characterized by respect, mutual understanding, and reciprocity
• Associate's degree
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful retail buying experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• Experience working with art supplies and/or art-related gifts or gallery settings.
• Experience with Lightspeed POS technology

Union:

No

Work Schedule:

35 hours per week; 12 months per year

Employment Status:

Full-time; Exempt

Grade:

12/AD

Documents Needed to Apply:

Resume (Required)

Cover Letter (Preferred)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

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