Job Description

Position Title & Department:

Merchandise Buyer & Sales Floor Supervisor; Torero Store
Posting #

5687

Department Description:

The Division of Student Affairs seeks an individual with a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and a strong interest in working at a mission driven, faith-based institution. Responsibilities of the position are significantly tethered in the university's contemporary Roman Catholic mission and commitment to creating an equitable, welcoming community for all.

The Division of Student Affairs is committed to grounding our policies, programs, and procedures in inclusive excellence. With this commitment, we recognize the importance of educating ourselves and holding one another accountable to ensure our work is approached through an inclusive excellence lens. We recognize our need for ongoing development in this area and continue to strive to improve. We expect all members of the Division of Student Affairs are willing to engage in this work alongside us to uphold our Catholic mission in creating a welcoming environment where the dignity of all students, staff, administrators, and faculty at USD is embraced.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges

Detailed Description:

The Merchandise Buyer & Sales Floor Supervisor is responsible for growing category sales through effective buying, merchandising and creating visual presentations. Responsible for maintaining appropriate inventory levels, achieving assigned gross margin objectives. Assist in the creation and implementation of promotions, sales and special events. Responsible for overseeing daily sales floor operations by leading and coaching sales associates, managing cash handling and customer service management. Train, delegate and review assigned tasks of sales associate staff. Responsible for timely and accurate POS data entry and maintenance. Always provides exemplary customer service to all customers. Other duties as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Visual Merchandising & Floor Operations

• Presentation Standards: Ensures the sales floor remains clean, organized, fully stocked, and re-stocked throughout the day.
• Display: Creates visual merchandising direction, rotates stock, and sets up promotional signage or seasonal decor.
• Replenishment: Coordinates stock transfers from the stockroom to the sales floor to maintain full product presentations.

Buying and Inventory Management

• Buying general merchandise categories: Plan, forecast and initiate purchasing for assigned merchandise categories.
• Meet with assigned vendors on a regular basis to manage vendor relationships; evaluating purchasing terms and freight, sales data, markdown dollars, discounts and weekly sales audits. Evaluates pricing, co-op and markdown dollars, return policies, USD brand identification and representation.
• Stock Audits: Assists with cycle counts, damaged merchandise processing, and annual physical inventory audits.
• Shrink Mitigation: Enforces loss prevention standards, monitors high-theft areas, and ensures safety guidelines are followed by staff and visitors.
• Pricing Accuracy: Verifies correct price ticketing, markdown tagging, and promotional price accuracy across all departments.

Daily Floor Leadership & Team Supervision

• Floor Direction: Supervises and oversees day-to-day sales floor operations, assigning tasks, and managing floor coverage and break schedules to ensure seamless store presence.
• Coaching & Training: Onboards, trains, and coaches student employees on selling techniques, customer engagement, product knowledge, and store procedures.
• Performance Support: Provides ongoing feedback to team members, assists with performance evaluations, and motivates the staff to achieve daily sales targets.
• Issue Resolution: Serves as the primary point of contact for employee questions, operational hiccups, and schedule adjustments during shifts.
• Store Operations: Executes routine opening and closing checklists, including locking/unlocking the building, setting alarms, and conducting security sweeps.
• Shift Handover: Communicates daily performance metrics, floor challenges, and key updates to store management during shift transitions.

Customer Service & Escalations

• Service Standards: Models proactive, high-quality customer service behaviors and ensure staff adhere to USD hospitality standards.
• Conflict Resolution: Directs and resolves customer complaints, complex returns, and service issues with diplomacy and authority to ensure positive outcomes.
• Customer Engagement: Actively engages with customers to assess needs, answer questions, and increase sales.
• Checkout Support: Assists at registers during high-volume periods to keep wait times minimal and maintain efficient checkout flow.
• Financial Handling: Performs daily register opening/closing duties, including float counts, till balances, safe drops, and audit reconciliations.
• Transaction Approvals: Responsible for manager overrides, high-value returns, tax-exempt transactions, and employee discounts at the Point-Of-Sale (POS).

Special Conditions of Employment:

• This position will require flexibility in schedule and hours during special events and peak business.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree required. Substitution: A high school diploma and 2 additional years of work experience may substituted for the degree requirement.
• Minimum 5 years of general merchandise (GM) buying responsibility in the retail or college industry required. GM areas can include gifts, supplies, apparel, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in selecting products, negotiating cost, and establishing retail pricing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to make appropriate and sound buying decisions, sustaining inventory based on financial purchasing principles, including markdowns, sales goals, forecasting, gross margins, etc.
• Proven ability to develop and implement marketing strategies and goals.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, as well as attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks and delegate in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to merchandise a wide array of products in an attractive, clean, uncluttered and creative fashion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of open to buy, inventory management, gross margin calculations, turns and other financial considerations for a profitable department.
• Knowledge of graphics, emblematic product, and apparel trends
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, techniques, practices and procedures in retail, purchasing and sales.
• Demonstrated knowledge of supervisory techniques and employee development and evaluation.
• Demonstrated competency with computer applications, including Google Suite, MS Word, Excel.
• Demonstrated knowledge of merchandising skills across diverse retail products.
• Knowledge of POS and inventory management systems, including e-commerce integration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of retail trends.

Posting Salary:

$5,858.67 - $5,943.05 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits

Education: Tuition opportunities supporting the education of employees and eligible dependents. Professional development. Culinary Institute of America Accredited Trainings.

Job Tools: Advancement opportunities. Complimentary tasting meals. Uniform, including (slip resistant) shoe reimbursement, provided.

Attractive Shifts: Minimal late night hours. Ten paid holidays. No Christmas Day or New Year’s Day shifts.

Discounts: USD Torero Store, Bartell Hotels, local event tickets. Free tickets to most USD sporting events.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers’ review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Additional Details:

Hours: 40 hours per week.Typical schedule is Tuesday through Saturday. Schedule will vary during peak business periods.

Closing date: Open until filled

Note External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.