Description
Adventure is our Culture. Join a team that celebrates a lifestyle as bold as the terrain we love. At Backcountry, we are rooted in adventure, recognition, and wellbeing on and off the mountain. We spotlight employee stories, celebrate milestones, and offer exclusive outdoor perks. Whether you are at HQ, in a retail store, or remote, you will be part of a team that thrives on energy, exploration, and connection.
As Buyer, Bike Hard Goods, you will decide which bikes and parts our customers ride and build with every season. This role owns assortment strategy, vendor negotiations, and inventory for Bike Hard Goods , complete bikes, frames, and the components that build and upgrade them , across Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, and Competitive Cyclist.
Within your first 6–12 months, you will have built strong vendor relationships across both bike and component brands, contributed to a well-balanced and technically sound assortment on each banner, and become a reliable technical resource for component-level compatibility within the team.
This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive sourcing strategy for bike hard goods , complete bikes, frames, and components (drivetrains, wheels, brakes, suspension, cockpit, and pedals) , across Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, and Competitive Cyclist, ensuring technically sound product is available to customers on each banner.
- Source and assess merchandise spanning complete bikes, frames, and individual components, factoring in market trends, cross-component compatibility, and current and historical selling history across all three brands.
- Build and maintain vendor relationships across both bike brands and component manufacturers, negotiating discounts, terms, and promotional windows while identifying and evaluating potential new vendors.
- Create SKU/PO worksheets and build purchase orders (quantity/dollar/style allocation, size/color breakout) under tight deadlines, negotiating pricing, terms, and volume discounts to optimize cost and profitability.
- Apply deep technical knowledge of bike and component systems , drivetrains, groupsets, brakes, wheels/tires, suspension, cockpit/contact points, and frame standards , to ensure assortment compatibility and spec accuracy, and to answer technical questions from vendors, planning, and customer-facing teams.
- Review SKU/brand/category performance for future opportunities, establish receipt flow, set sell-through targets, and manage inventory through re-orders and order reductions; partner with Planning on exit strategy for slow movers.
- Partner with Marketing on selling strategy, promotion concepts, the promotional calendar, boosting/sort order review, and visual merchandising to maximize sales.
- Utilize sales data, market trends, and customer insights to forecast demand, anticipate future needs, and develop effective procurement plans.
- Monitor KPIs, analyze buying trends, evaluate vendor performance, and propose strategies for improvement to achieve sales targets and maximize profitability.
- Partner closely with the Senior Buyer and Planning partner to support departmental initiatives and goals.
Requirements:
- 4–7 years of buying experience.
- Strong, hands-on technical knowledge of bikes, frames, and components , drivetrains, groupsets, brake systems, wheel/tire standards, suspension, cockpit/contact points, frame geometry and material , and the ability to evaluate cross-component and build-kit compatibility.
- Deep understanding of the cycling/outdoor retail market, customer preferences, and industry dynamics.
- Proven experience in inventory management, demand forecasting, and optimizing procurement processes.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with demonstrated negotiation skills.
- Firm understanding of retail math fundamentals.
- Excellent organizational skills with extreme attention to detail and the ability to prioritize competing tasks.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong collaborator.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel; experience with purchasing software and systems.
- Working knowledge of AI tools and their practical application in merchandising workflows (e.g., demand forecasting, assortment planning, trend analysis, or reporting).
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
Benefits:
- Paid time off policies
- 401(k) match
- Medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies
- Employee discounts across our portfolio of brands