At Backcountry, our mission is to connect people to their passions. Our four online stores—Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, MotoSport and, SteepandCheap—aim to supply our customers with the gear, knowledge, and inspiration necessary to get out there and chase down life’s greatest moments. We do this by providing the biggest and best assortment of premium outdoor products, superior shopping experience, personalized Gearhead expertise, lightning-fast and accurate fulfillment, and inspirational, informative, and community-centered content.
Backcountry is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Buyer to drive procurement and purchasing activities within our dynamic retail ecommerce organization. This is a strategic role focused on ensuring our company maintains a competitive edge in the market by leveraging expertise in the outdoor industry and outstanding negotiation skills. The ideal candidate is passionate about the outdoor industry, attuned to evolving consumer trends, and brings a data-driven approach to merchandising and vendor partnerships. The Buyer will develop and execute sourcing strategies for outdoor products, ensuring product assortments and vendor partnerships align with financial targets and Backcountry branding. This role will manage vendor relationships, optimize inventory performance, and collaborate cross-functionally with Planning, Marketing, and Operations to drive revenue growth and margin improvement. The scope of the role will include all the digital channels including Backcountry, Steep & Cheap and Market place.
What you get to do:
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for outdoor products to ensure a diverse, high-quality merchandise assortment aligned with financial targets.
- Build and nurture strategic relationships with vendors, negotiate pricing, terms, and key buys to maximize gross margin and support differentiated product stories.
- Consistently research trends, partner with merchandising, and curate compelling, on-brand product offerings that drive customer engagement.
- Secure advantageous pricing and volume discounts while upholding competitive customer pricing and profitability targets.
- Manage inventory levels and stock health; collaborate with planning for optimal turns, minimal stockouts, and efficient management of excess inventory.
- Lead quality standard enforcement and regular supplier/product audits, guaranteeing compliance with both company and customer expectations.
- Leverage sales data, trend analysis, and consumer analytics to forecast demand and develop data-driven procurement plans.
- Partner with Planning on seasonal budgets, forecasting, and KPI reporting to ensure alignment with business objectives.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Creative, and Operations, developing promotions and initiatives that drive brand engagement and revenue growth.
- Mentor and support junior buying staff, fostering accountability, professional development, and a results-oriented culture.
- Monitor key KPIs, buying trends, and vendor metrics; utilize reporting platforms to detect trends and prescribe action plans to maximize profitability.
What you bring:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field preferred; Master's degree a plus.
- 3-5 years' buying experience, ideally within outdoor retail or a closely related area, with a demonstrated record of strategic sourcing and vendor management success.
- Proven negotiation acumen and familiarity with outdoor industry trends and consumer preferences.
- Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities; fluency in Excel and experience with purchasing, planning, and reporting systems.
- Strong inventory management background and proficiency with procurement software and demand forecasting tools.
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills for both vendor and cross-team collaboration.
- Results-oriented work style with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and time management.
- Genuine enthusiasm for the outdoor industry and deep understanding of key brands, trends, and consumer behavior.
What’s in it for you? Joining Backcountry isn’t just about having a seat at the table—it’s about helping redesign the table entirely. You’ll be challenged, stretched, and supported as you grow faster than you thought possible. In addition to competitive compensation, we offer:
- Executive Access: Work directly with brand CEOs and senior leadership, solving real business problems and earning mentorship from top operators.
- AI-First Skill Building: Get hands-on with the most advanced AI tools in the market. From automation to prompt engineering, you’ll build a modern tech stack that sets you apart in any industry.
- Accelerated Career Path: High performers are quickly entrusted with greater responsibility, new challenges, and leadership opportunities across our portfolio of brands.
- Competitive benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k)/RRSP match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts at our portfolio companies
Our interview process
- 📞 Step 1: If you align with our vision and meet the qualifications, we’ll reach out to schedule a conversation and introduce Backcountry.
- 🧠 Step 2: You’ll complete a short AI or product-building challenge so we can understand how you approach problems and execution.
- 💬 Step 3: Participate in deep-dive interviews with Backcountry leadership focused on your experience, product mindset, and operational thinking.
- 📩 Step 4: Offer. We’ll move fast for the right candidate.
The CSC family of brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state or local laws.
The CSC family of brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact [email protected]. 