Within the Cornell Store, the merchandise and inventory planning team has oversight of a broad selection of product categories throughout multiple brick-and-mortar stores and online channels. Merchandise categories include emblematic clothing and gifts, food and perishables, art and general supplies, non-emblematic gifts and accessories, convenience items, dorm supplies, and academic materials. This buying team plays a critical role in determining what products the stores will carry and what items our customers need.
Under the general direction of the Manager of Retail Buying, the Retail Buying Assistant will support the procurement of general merchandise for The Cornell Store, branch store locations, and the e-commerce website. This includes selecting products, negotiating terms, developing pricing strategies, and achieving established financial objectives to increase revenue. This position also assists with managing product selection for the e-commerce website by evaluating sales performance, developing seasonal merchandise assortments, identifying trends, determining the timeliness of merchandise deliveries to maximize sales performance and achieve customer satisfaction, and maintaining inventory to minimize markdown liabilities.
A successful Retail Buying Assistant will:
Multitask and work effectively with both customers and clients
Develop and implement process improvements to streamline efficiencies and/or reduce costs.
Gather, analyze, and effectively utilize internal and external data to make appropriate ordering and pricing decisions.
Work collaboratively with other functional departments within The Cornell Store organization to support merchandising and product strategy in coordination with Retail Store Managers.
Required Qualifications
Associate's degree with at least 2 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a strong focus on customer service.
Experience with Microsoft Office software (especially MS Excel) and previous experience with retail inventory management and ordering systems including Point-of- Sale (POS) software is critical.
May occasionally need to lift and/or move 10-20 pounds.
Must be willing to travel and be able to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional education and/or experience (beyond 3 years) specifically in the retail or college store industry
Experience with emblematic apparel and gifts, convenience items, supplies, perishables, and other merchandise categories.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The successful applicant will be expected to work on campus.
University Job Title:
Sales Asst IV
Job Family:
Auxiliary Services
Level:
D
Pay Rate Type:
Hourly
Pay Range:
$26.00 - $30.05
Remote Option Availability:
Onsite
Company:
Endowed
Contact Name:
Jana English
Contact Email:
jb853@cornell.edu
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Unique applicable skills
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2026-01-14