• Assistant Buyer

    Veterans Canteen Service (St. Louis, MO)


    Salary $73,041

     

    This position closes on 07/28/2025.

     

    This is not a remote position.

     

    Looking for a better work-life balance? Join an amazing organization that puts Veteran’s first for an amazing career!

     

    Since 1946 Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) has delivered the VCS benefits to millions of Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Healthcare system, the largest Healthcare system in the United States. VCS is a program office in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that is Veteran facing, providing reasonably priced goods and services for the comfort and well-being of America’s Veterans.

     

    The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS), Central Office, located on the Jefferson Barracks VAMC campus in St. Louis, MO is seeking an Assistant Buyer in the Retail division.

    DUTIES:

    Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

    Analytical Thinking & Strong Business Acumen: Execute retail sales, margin, assortment, and inventory plans. Develop and implement strategies to ensure financial targets are met.

     

    Brand & Buying Strategy: Support the development and execution of brand and product line strategies by analyzing customer preferences, sales trends, and market performance.

     

    Forecasting: Maximize business opportunity while minimizing financial liability through Open to Buy forecasts, managing receipts, pricing, and initiating monthly markdown strategies that support sales and profitability goals.

     

    Collaboration: Partner with Marketing to build a strong advertising strategy within your product categories. Manage vendor relationships and supplier/partner contracts.

     

    Product & Market Awareness: Analyze market trends to understand competition, pricing, marketing concepts, and trends.

     

    Additional Responsibilities & Flexibility: Perform and adapt to additional responsibilities as needed.

     

    Travel: Occasional travel will be required.

    VCS offers competitive benefits, including:

    + Opportunities for career advancement.

    + Childcare Subsidy Program.

    + No nights.

    + Major Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance & Life Insurance.

    + Vacation & Sick Leave to include 11 (paid) Federal Holidays.

    + Federal Retirement, Pension.

    + Public Transportation Benefits (Bus Pass).

    + Visit us at https://www.vacanteen.va.gov/ for more information about the Veterans Canteen Service.

    QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

    Experience: Minimum of two (2) years’ experience required as an Assistant Buyer, Associate Buyer, or Sr. buyer in a retail buying office, and must possess an excellent understanding and working knowledge of retail merchandising principles, concepts, and established practices associated with buying retail merchandise.

     

    Financial Acumen: Must possess strong analytical skills to include a solid command of retail math, forecasting, gross margin, inventory turn, and Return on Investment.

     

    Communication: Clear and effective communicator, both written and verbal. Confident negotiator. Able to articulate ideas successfully across Microsoft Teams and in-person audiences.

     

    Problem Solving and Multi-Tasking: Adept at managing multiple tasks and resolving issues efficiently. Thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment operating under tight deadlines.

     

    Proficient Technical Ability: Skilled in Microsoft Suite and experience with Retail purchasing systems.

     

    Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment. It is a requirement that all HCP receive the annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons.