Retail Buying Assistant

Reports to: Principal Retail Buyer

Permanent contract

EMEA HQ, Geneva, Switzerland

‍ Hybrid mode (2 days/week home-office)

Start date: at the earliest convenience

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia Sportswear, we’re as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we’re proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving

Discover a world of diversity within our team of 700+ across 13 European countries, united by the common goal of elevating Columbia to the pinnacle of outdoor brands in Europe. Our omnichannel approach seamlessly integrates Columbia and Sorel brands' engaging in-store and online experiences.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Located in our European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the Buying team supports and coordinates the implementation of our Buying and Retail Merchandising strategy for the pan-European Retail Outlet, Branded stores, and eCommerce businesses. The overall Retail Team includes Buying, Marketing, Operations and Store staff - around 300 people across 9 countries.

Columbia Sportswear has an ambitious plan to increase the number of Columbia stores across Europe, and the Buying team is key to delivering that growth and satisfying consumer needs through effective merchandising and excellent service.

This objective requires our team to strategically purchase our collection, closely manage inventory, and implement pricing strategies.

ABOUT THE POSITION

To support the growth of our retail business, we are seeking a motivated and data-driven Retail Buying Assistant to join our Buying team in Geneva.

You will work closely with the Principal Retail Buyer and the Buyer to provide analytical and operational support across the full buying cycle — from range planning to pricing setup and reporting. Your analyses and reports will help the team make data-driven decisions on assortment construction, pricing, and promotional activities, ultimately ensuring that the right products are bought, priced, and delivered to stores at the right time.

This position combines analytical accuracy with cross-functional collaboration and offers the opportunity to improve process and tasks efficiency. You’ll also play a key role in setting up and maintaining retail prices in our system and in coordinating catalog and delivery flows for stores across Europe.

Your role will be pivotal in ensuring the efficiency of our back-office operations, directly impacting store performance and consumer satisfaction.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
- Analyze sales and stock performance to identify best-sellers, slow movers, and category trends, providing the Buying team with reliable data to support range planning and discount decisions.
- Prepare and maintain detailed buying reports, improving and automating existing Excel tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Support pricing operations: set up and maintain retail prices in the system (C1-D365) according to key promotional events (e.g., Black Friday, sales, late-night shopping) and ensure price consistency across stores and systems.
- Assist in the product listing and buying process, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with internal deadlines.
- Manage the sample order process, ensuring timely organization and tracking of physical samples.
- Support the creation of seasonal assortment overviews and product catalogs for stores, enabling Retail and Visual Merchandising teams to easily access key product information (styles, categories, prices, delivery timing).
- Coordinate product flows with Retail Operations and Allocations to ensure products are delivered to stores according to seasonal priorities and timelines.
- Collaborate with Planning and Inventory teams to maintain optimal stock levels and guarantee product availability in line with commercial objectives.
- Turn data into actionable insights: provide analyses and reports that help the team make informed decisions impacting store performance and customer satisfaction.

YOU ARE
- Someone who thrives in an analytical environment and ensures accuracy in every aspect of their work — from managing multiple data sources to delivering reliable insights.
- Naturally curious and eager to understand how products, categories, and seasons work within the outdoor retail business, connecting your analyses to real commercial impact.
- Highly organized, efficiently managing multiple tasks and keeping the buying process smooth and streamlined.
- Structured and rigorous, yet flexible — comfortable working in a role that’s still evolving, wher