Job Description

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 51 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world, and the Federation is committed to inspiring all people around our shared love of nature and wildlife by creating a welcoming and inclusive community representative of all Americans.  By respecting and valuing the diversity of connections to the natural world and wildlife, we work toward convening a powerful movement.  We are seeking an Associate Buyer to join our team in Reston, VA.

In this role you will be responsible for catalog, internet product development/merchandising, strategizing, managing and accountability for assorted categories of merchandise.  Your role will include:

Product Sourcing and Development:

You will be responsible for sourcing and developing an assortment of products for online and catalog, identifying and developing new items/trends, and categories that will drive profitable revenue, while monitoring inventory for turn requirements.  You will establish a liquidation strategy for obsolete merchandise, while maintaining overall catalog profitability measures.  You will consistently seek new opportunities and venues to find new product and expanding existing categories/items consistent with company focus and target customers.  You’ll drive the growth of the business by ensuring successful introduction of new items to the company that meet the product criteria as well as financial goals.  You will prepare spreadsheets and forecast all product selections (new items and catalog picks) for external purchasing company, and will  identify and develop profitable products that tie to mission related programs, such as NWF’s Trees for Wildlife and Gardening for Wildlife programs.  In this role you will also be responsible for NWF product sourcing and purchasing for internal program needs; i.e. NWF branded merchandise, SWAG, and products for tabling events.

Catalog Marketing:

You will prepare product sheets for each item in the catalog for external creative team and will unpack, pack and prepare photo samples to ship out to external photography studio.  You will write and proof copy for associated catalog products.  Your role includes responsibility for catalog email strategy, content, and development of email creative, to drive sales and achieve gross margin goals.  To do this you will work closely with the NWF online marketing team.  You’ll also coordinate with internal analytics staff to review and assign list segmentation.

Direct marketing product sourcing and inventory:

You will be responsible for sourcing approximately $1M premium product for NWF’s direct marketing programs. This will require you to meet with outside vendors that closely monitor this industry for trends and new industry standards. You’ll prepare product line reviews for direct marketing teams.  You will develop new products collaboratively with program managers, and in keeping in line with US Postal System flat-pack regulations.  You’ll negotiate product costs, MOQ’s, and packaging requirements, and will determine “best practices” for shipping and packaging requirements.  You will serve as a liaison between product managers and vendors to resolve any product questions.  You will also forecast inventory expenditures and be responsible for placement of purchase orders, and you will track purchase orders from time of placement to receipt of merchandise at our fulfillment center.

Lastly, you’ll have other related duties that may be assigned.

Qualifications:

Four-year college degree or equivalent in business, marketing, sourcing or relevant areas.
Minimum of five years’ experience in buying and product development,  with ecommerce experience as well as a keen understanding of ecommerce platforms and businesses.
Comprehensive understanding of retail math.
Must possess strong analytical, communication skills and must have the ability to multi-task.
Must be able to demonstrate sound negotiating and communication skills.
Must be self-motivated, detail oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
In this role you will travel to trade shows, approximately 3 – 4 times per year.

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world.  We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description, we support your application. If selected, a background check will be conducted.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time.

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