Director of Purchasing-SSC

YOUR FUTURE BEGINS AT THIS PREMIER DESTINATION

Event Network is the leading operator of retail experiences at some of the most iconic and inspiring destinations across the United States. We infuse passion, creativity, and purpose into everything we do, creating engaging and memorable retail environments that enhance the guest experience while reflecting the unique mission and values of each location we serve.

Director of Purchasing – Event Network

The Director of Purchasing is the central point of communication and strategy for product across the portfolio of partnerships. Working with the VP of Purchasing, store quality, internal product teams and partners, this role translates partnership vision, guest expectations and organizational priorities into actionable product strategies. The Purchasing Director defines partnership product "wins," aligns stakeholders to a single product perspective per partnership, and ensures clear priorities that deliver meaningful retail experiences.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with the VP of Purchasing to ensure consistent execution of product strategies across buyers, planners, store quality, and product development in support of organizational priorities.
• Serve as the central conduit for product between partners and internal teams, ensuring clarity and alignment of product strategies across partners.
• Synthesize partner and guest goals into actionable product objectives, clearly defining and communicating the product "win" to align internal and external teams.
• Maintain strong communication instincts, switching between email, calls, or meetings based on urgency, nuance, and relationship dynamics.
• Balance partner expectations, guest insights, and internal strategies to provide clarity on product goals without imposing personal viewpoints.

Cross-Functional Product Strategy

• Guide, influence, and align cross‑functional teams—including buyers, planners, store quality, visual merchandising, and creative—around product strategy and assortment architecture.
• Communicate key product insights, accomplishments, progress, and risks to senior leadership, providing clear recommendations or data that support strategic decision‑making.
• Provide actionable direction on product strategy and partnership objectives to ensure buyers and planners execute and support assortments with precision and alignment to business goals.
• Keep the guest experience central to product decision‑making, balancing operational, partner, creative, and buyer perspectives.

Operational Excellence in Product

• Own financial accountability for product strategies within assigned partnerships, monitoring assortment performance, margins, and productivity against business and partner goals.
• Proactively elevate critical issues or risks, ensuring urgent matters are clearly communicated and addressed with the right stakeholders.
• Approach product additions with focus and discipline, ensuring new items reflect a thoughtful balance of creativity, guest impact, and business priorities such as SKU count targets, cost‑of‑goods thresholds, and sales‑driving potential.
• Apply sharp prioritization to handle fast‑paced, high‑volume workflows with shifting timelines and multiple stakeholders.
• Establish clear decision parameters, align cross‑functional teams, and keep focus anchored on shared product objectives.

Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in partnership or client relationship roles within retail, merchandising, or product strategy.
• Creative problem‑solver with strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize, manage projects, and drive alignment across partners and internal teams.
• Proven ability to craft and deliver presentations from conception to execution, designing compelling decks, structuring KPIs and strategies into clear, persuasive narratives, and presenting with clarity, professionalism, and influence.
• Strong analytical skills with knowledge of store and product KPIs (margins, assortment planning, forecasting, performance).
• Demonstrated success leading through influence in matrixed, cross‑functional environments.
• Ability to travel throughout the year as needed.
• Prior experience partnering with mission‑driven institutions or cultural destinations is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Physical Demands

The Purchasing Director is frequently required to stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Bring Your Passion and Talent to Our Team!

Ready to make an impact and be part of something extraordinary? Apply today and take the next step in your career journey with us!

Event Network celebrates diversity and is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Team Members.

Employee Benefits

Event Network offers full‑time team members a comprehensive total rewards package with a variety of coverage options.

• Health and Wellness Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance; Basic Life and AD&D Insurance; Long‑Term Disability; Voluntary Benefits options paid 100% by employee.
• Retirement and Savings: 401(k) Retirement Plan; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid Time Off: Vacation Accrual; Sick Leave.
• Nine Paid Holidays.
• Profit Sharing Bonus Plan.
• Employee Discounts: 25% discount to shop at our stores; exclusive savings on a variety of brand‑name products, services, travel, entertainment, tickets, and more.

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