Reports to: Sr Manager Regional Merchandising
Contract: Permanent
Location: EMEA HQ, Geneva, Switzerland
Work Mode: Hybrid (2 days/week home-office)
Start Date: At the earliest convenience
About The Position
As Columbia continues to expand its ecommerce business across Europe, reaching new markets, growing its direct‑to‑consumer channel and deepening its connection with outdoor consumers, we are strengthening our Buying team to match this ambition. We are creating a new Ecommerce Buyer role with a focused scope: Footwear (Columbia & Sorel), Apparel Youth, Accessories and Equipment, reporting to the Sr Manager Regional Merchandising. This perimeter has been designed deliberately. Concentrated enough to allow for genuine product expertise, frequent in‑depth analysis and close day‑to‑day collaboration with the Web Merchandising team covering the same categories. As a Buyer for the eCommerce channel, you define the buying strategy, build seasonal selections, manage pricing logic and work hand in hand with Web Merchandising to ensure everything you have built lands on‑site with impact. The role sits at the intersection of commercial thinking, product passion and brand understanding. You will own your perimeter end‑to‑end, from budget construction at the start of the season to sell‑out optimisation and inventory management at close, all within the framework of a flagship online store for both brands.
How You’ll Make The Difference
Build and Own Your Buying Strategy
* Define the seasonal buying budget and assortment strategy for your scope, aligned with brand guidelines and commercial priorities
* Make buying decisions that balance product depth, range breadth and business performance across Footwear, Youth, Accessories and Equipment
* Anticipate what will perform on your perimeter and bring well‑argued recommendations to the Product Merchandising team
Drive Performance Throughout the Season
* Monitor sales, sell‑through and margin indicators, and take proactive action when needed
* Run projections, forecasts and scenario analyses to support intake, pricing and liquidation decisions
* Build and manage promotional operations in a way that serves commercial objectives while protecting brand positioning — this is a flagship environment, not a markdown‑first one
Turn Your Buying Into Compelling Online Experiences
* Work closely with Web Merchandising teams to ensure your selections are surfaced and presented with relevance and commercial intent
* Provide product expertise and recommendations to support landing pages, editorial moments and seasonal activations
* Be the go‑to product reference for your categories: know your range inside out, understand each product's role, and know how and when to put it forward
Contribute to a Stronger Merchandising Organization
* Collaborate with Product Merchandising to share ecomm performance insights and influence future range decisions
* Help raise the standard of how categories are bought and merchandised online across the European ecomm business
YOU ARE
* Genuinely passionate about product: footwear, youth apparel, gear and accessories are not just references on a spreadsheet to you
* Analytically sharp: you think in retail math naturally and use data to drive decisions, not just to report on them
* Brand‑aware: you understand that on an ecom flagship, every selection and every price point sends a signal about who we are
* Autonomous and structured: you own your scope, manage your workload and do not need to be prompted to go deeper
* A strong collaborator: you work well across functions and know how to align with and influence web merch and product teams
* Pragmatic and outcome‑focused: you find the right path forward in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment
YOU HAVE
* Solid experience as a Buyer or Merchandiser, ideally combining time on the brand side and exposure to retail or ecommerce environments
* A genuine affinity with the outdoor, sport or lifestyle sector: you know the products and speak the language of the category
* Strong command of retail math: margin calculation, intake planning, promotional mechanics, sell‑through and liquidation forecasting
* Experience building buying budgets and seasonal selections with a structured, analytical approach
* Comfort with ecommerce dynamics: how product is discovered, presented and converted in a digital environment
* Fluency in English; additional European languages are a plus
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
Expected Pay: CHF 96,600 – CHF 132,000. Pay decisions are determined by multiple factors, including job competitiveness within the market, a candidate’s capabilities and skills, years of experience, and internal equity.
At Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), we’re committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone has the same opportunity to thrive. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on age, gender, nationality, race, religion or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our success as a global brand. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain exceptional people, ensuring fair practices and transparency in line with evolving standards. We are committed to equal pay for equal work and make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
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