Museum Store Buyer Manager & E Commerce Coordinator

The Warhol is one of the four Carnegie Museums, and a collaborative project between Carnegie Institute, Dia Art Foundation, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Plans to house The Warhol in Pittsburgh were announced in 1989, and the museum opened its doors during a 24-hour celebration on May 13, 1994. Originally built in 1911 as a distribution center for products sold to mills and mines, The Warhol was redesigned by architect Richard Gluckman and features seven floors of gallery and exhibition space as well as an underground level that houses The Factory education studio and the conservation lab. Carnegie Museums is interested in candidates who, through their experience and collaborations, will contribute to diversity and excellence of the Carnegie Museums community.
 

This Full-Time position is eligible for the Carnegie Museums' many Benefits. 

Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see information on the starting pay rate.

The Museum Store Buyer Manager & E Commerce Coordinator is the lead role in integrating the Big Commerce online platform with the Heartland Retail system, will work closely with our Museum IT partners on integration tasks, communicating requirements, needs and developing user training. Post integration this role will research and present to leadership growth opportunities and implementation plans, trouble shoot issues and keep informed on updates, upgrades and changes to Big Commerce, bringing forth innovations the stores might implement to maximize growth in our ecommerce initiatives. Aspects will include structure changes, streamlining of tasks and operations, marketing plans and may include a website redesign with an outside contractor. In the Buyer Manager role will execute the store mission of producing revenue and surplus for the museum through engaging product offerings which enhance the visitor and follower experience and positively support museum brand and image. The buyer manager must achieve the store’s financial objectives and goals by driving sales, service and profitability through data-driven decisions on product assortment, pricing strategy, private brand initiatives, well designed and maintained store displays and layout, well-trained and motivated staff and excellent inventory control.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience and understanding of running a successful ecommerce site and demonstrated ability to research, coordinate and master new information to develop and execute plans, projects and strategies to drive results
• Minimum 2 years proven experience as a retail buyer and store manager.
• Experience with market research, forecasting techniques and data reporting and analysis.
• Experience in personnel management and motivation, visual merchandising and inventory control.
• Demonstrated project management skills
• College degree required. Degree in Business Administration or relevant field preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Possess a solid understanding of retail metrics, how to perform market and customer research and interpret data to inform and support decisions that drive sales and surplus.
• Have some practical experience and knowledge and a desire to constantly acquire new knowledge and skills of driving effective ecommerce sites.
• Understand accounting basics, and inventory management to drive profitability.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and present with tact and diplomacy to museum leadership, artists, foundations, licensing entities, donors, customers and store staff to achieve goals.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently and achieve project deadlines.
• Effective team building skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Mental, emotional, and physical stamina required to deal with simultaneous demands and varied personalities. The ability to lift and transport boxes (up to 30 pounds), climb ladders, stoop, bend, work in confined tight spaces, handle stock and occasionally stand for periods of time up to three hours.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Research selects and purchases product assortment for the store and ecommerce site to match museum’s collections and exhibitions and supports the store mission, goals and brand. Evaluating options, negotiates and secures competitive prices, quality and terms to deliver value to customers. Sets retail prices and analyzes sales performance of items and categories to maximize return on investment.
• Collaborates with Warhol Store Manager of Product Development to develop branded products for the store that meet visitor demand and drive revenue.

• Possess and maintain a working knowledge of all receiving, inventory control systems and online order fulfillment process to direct Merchandise / Receiving associates in the receiving, order fulfillment and shipping processes. Verifies count and quality of merchandise deliveries. Verifies product priced according to receiving documents. Monitors timely fulfillment of online orders
• Oversees and directs supervision of all staff positions assigned to store location including hiring, training, coaching, scheduling, motivating and implementing disciplinary plans as necessary. Leads and promotes effective communication between store staff to ensure well informed and responsive associates. Demonstrates leadership and provides information to staff to support outstanding customer service.
• Conducts and manages physical inventories for the store, reconciling differences between the physical count and general ledger levels. Assists in physical inventories at other CM stores.
• Directs placement and maintenance of merchandise on the selling floor. Directs creation of exciting visual displays, window and seasonal displays and ensures visibility of merchandise to maximize sales and profit.
• Coordinates with museum marketing team to develop store marketing and social media outreach.
• Research and development of ecommerce site improvements including website design, function, product assortment. Curates the assortment for Andy Warhol ecommerce and informs decisions across all CM Stores with oversite of adding and maintaining products and photos to ecommerce site including placing products in appropriate categories and subcategories.
• Assists Director of Retail Operations with creating, maintaining and scheduling ecommerce promotional calendar including promotion themes, copy, approving graphic content and setting shipping cutoff dates.
• Develop and execute ecommerce communication plan to CM marketing partners and membership including identifying products for marketing outreach. Consistently works toward gaining marketing and membership support and partnership.
• Oversite of ecommerce sales and customer data and reporting. Monitors timely fulfillment of online orders, maintenance of stale orders and aged pick-up in store orders, working with Buyer Managers across all stores to address and resolve customer service issues and meet set policies and standards.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending tradeshows, conferences, educational workshops, reviewing professional publications and establishing personal networks.
• Other duties as assigned.

The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.

Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minorities / Females / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

The above job description reflects the essential functions and qualifications for the position identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship between CMP and the employee.   

*GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires employers to consider and accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  An individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation. An essential job function is any task that is a fundamental part of the job.  When considering essentiality, one must focus upon whether the function is essential to this particular job and not to the department as a whole. Some additional guidance on essential functions follows below.  Please note that the following guidelines are non-exhaustive.  If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Human Resources. A. Is the function required to be performed on a regular basis? If the function is rarely performed, it may not be essential. B. Is the function highly specialized? Is the incumbent hired for his/her expertise or ability to perform the function?  The need for special expertise is an indication of an essential function. C. Does the position exist, at least in part, to perform the function?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. D. How much time is spent performing the function and how often?  Note that even functions performed 10% of the time could be essential if they are required on a regular basis. E. Would elimination of the function fundamentally alter the job?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. F. What are the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the function? If they are significant, the function is more likely to be essential.  G. Are there a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function could be distributed if the incumbent could not perform it?  If so, it is more likely to be essential.