The posting
Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.
At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.
As we continue to scale our global platform, the Buyer will play a critical role in strengthening product assortment, deepening vendor partnerships, and delivering fan-first category experiences.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Buyer owns end-to-end category management, responsible for curating a compelling assortment and driving performance across a defined product category through innovative product strategy and vendor partnerships. Reporting to the Divisional Merchandise Manager, the Buyer partners closely with Planning, Product Development, Site Experience, Marketing, and Supply Chain to execute a category strategy aligned to brand goals and financial targets. The Buyer delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.
HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT
Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.
Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)
- Serves as a culture carrier and active contributor to the broader Merchandising team, sharing insights, tools, and best practices across divisions to elevate team thinking.
- Supports onboarding and coaching of Assistant Buyers and Coordinators, helping build capability across the merchandising organization.
- Negotiates costs, terms, and exclusives in partnership with the DMM and General Merchandise Manager to drive category competitiveness.
- Builds strong relationships with vendor and brand partners to drive growth, product exclusivity, and ongoing innovation.
Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)
- Stays closely connected to the voice of the fan—tracking trends, social signals, and product sentiment to inform category decisions.
- Monitors the competitive landscape to ensure category relevance and differentiation across the assortment.
- Builds a balanced, trend-right assortment that blends accessibility and exclusivity, grounded in data, fan insights, and product performance.
- Acts as a category expert across vertical and market brands—including brand equity, cost architecture, and vendor capability.
Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)
- Partners with Product Development to shape vertical brand assortment and optimize positioning within the category.
- Curates the vendor matrix to optimize productivity, reduce redundancy, and elevate product storytelling.
- Collaborates on seasonal strategies, assortment reviews, and go-to-market planning with vendor and brand partners.
- Applies innovative thinking and sound business judgment to solve complex category challenges and drive continuous improvement.
Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)
- Owns in-season management of sales, margin, inventory, and turn for the category, managing the Good/Better/Best framework and full product lifecycle from initial buy through markdown and exit.
- Leverages insights to drive pricing, promotion, and markdown decisions that maximize category profitability.
- Collaborates with Planning to align OTB, receipt flow, and in-season reforecasting to financial targets.
- Tracks and reports on category performance, making recommendations to accelerate profitable growth in support of the broader merchandising strategy.
AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY
We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:
- Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes
- Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance
- Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working
- Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING
Required Qualifications:
- 4+ years of experience in Merchandising or Buying, with proven success in assortment management and vendor partnerships.
- Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to make data-informed decisions across pricing, promotion, and inventory management.
- Passion for product, fans, and delivering innovation at speed in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Proven ability to manage a category's financial metrics including sales, margin, inventory turn, and OTB.
- Team player with high accountability, a growth mindset, and a track record of cross-functional collaboration.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present category insights and recommendations clearly.
- Highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in vertical/private brand and market vendor businesses.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred, not required.
WORK LOCATION
Hybrid: The primary place of performance of this role is the Company's office located in Jacksonville, Florida subject to the Company's current hybrid work policy. This role currently requires in-office presence 3 days per week.
At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset—We Build Championship Teams, we're Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined & Relentless Mindset. If you're ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.
At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.
ABOUT US Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.
ABOUT THE TEAM Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues, teams, colleges, and associations globally – as well as its flagship site, www.fanatics.com.
Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online, sports venue, and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide, including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues, teams, colleges, and sports organizations across the world—including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Formula 1, and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea FC, and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), England Rugby, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
At Fanatics Commerce, we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do: · Build Championship Teams · Obsessed with Fans · Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit · Determined and Relentless Mindset
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