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, where you'll have space to shape how things are done
• At ease asking questions and challenging the status quo constructively to continuously improve the way the team operates.
• A team player who communicates clearly and collaborates smoothly across departments (Retail, Planning, Allocations, etc.) to reach shared goals.
• Passionate about the product and motivated by seeing your work translate into tangible business results in stores.

YOU HAVE

• A diploma or Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills and a passion for working with data to support decision-making.
• Excellent technical skills in Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS, and complex functions).
• Proven ability to manage multiple datasets and maintain accurate reporting tools.
• A good understanding (or strong interest to learn) of the seasonality and dynamics of the retail or outdoor industry.
• High attention to detail combined with the ability to zoom out and see the bigger business picture.
• Strong communication skills in English (spoken and written); any other European language is a plus.
• A collaborative and positive mindset — you like to help, share, and learn from others.

PERKS & BENEFITS

Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products

Soft mobility policy (Geneva office only)

• Health insurance allowance for employees in Switzerland
• Pilates and yoga classes on our premises, and running groups or sports activities

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning

A monthly Learning Hour for training, discovery and learning

‍ Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights...)

DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

ABOUT THE CULTURE

• At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.
• Our "Always Be Learning" culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
• "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.

To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle:

ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS

Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear Company? Apply now to help us connect active people with their passion The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks.

If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to talk about yourself, your motivations and the role

In-person interview with the Buying team + case study

Interview with the Omni-channel Buying Manager and HR

Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are thrilled to extend you an offer

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.