Role Summary

Urban Outfitters is looking for a Senior Buyer in Denim. We're on a mission to Fuel The Next Generation of Individuality through the single most important item in their closet: killer denim. Urban Outfitters is making a huge, fun comeback as the ultimate retailer for youth culture, and we need a visionary Senior Buyer to lead the charge. You will be the architect of a customer-obsessed product mix that is bold, ahead of the curve, and commercially explosive.

We're looking for someone who lives and breathes the denim landscape—from the newest washes and sustainable tech to perfecting that perfect, can't-find-it-anywhere-else fit block. Your strategy will cement our spot as the place for youth denim. Think undeniable success stories: you’ll be capitalizing on the viral hysteria of the Kayla jean and making sure that UO's assortment and exclusive fits are unmatched. And you'll be the champion for BDG Denim, our own brand that proves premium quality doesn't have to break the bank.

If your decade of experience is backed by a relentless focus on data and a genuine, infectious passion for youth culture, it's time to drive a retail resurgence. This is your platform. Join us, and let’s shape what’s next—together!

Role Responsibilities

The Impact You'll Make: The Denim Guru

As Senior Buyer, Denim, you are the ultimate curator, strategist, and vibe-checker. Forget your personal favorites; you'll be using performance data and deep-dive market immersion to build an assortment of jeans, jackets, and bottoms that gets our customer base buzzing and makes our brand pop. Your responsibilities will include: 

Visionary Denim Assortment Strategy

• Architect the Mix: Create a balanced, brand-defining assortment by translating raw customer feedback, macro trends, and deep dives into denim construction/wash trends into one cohesive, commercially irresistible offering.
• Drive Key Item & Core Strength: You own the key item strategy, especially for viral fits and core blocks (like the Kayla!), to drive max sales and profit. Crush our core business while constantly dropping fashion newness, testing new silhouettes, and leading strategic online expansion to snatch up those web-exclusive wins.
• Fit & Quality Custodian: You’re the internal defender of UO’s proprietary denim, making sure the quality and fit are always on point so customers know they can only get this fit here.
• Brand & Private Label Balance: Juggle the mix of must-have branded denim and our own unique, margin-driving collections that propel BDG Denim to be the ultimate premium-yet-accessible star.

Cultural and Trend Forecasting

• Be the Pulse of Youth Culture: You need to be obsessed with fashion, style, and cultural movements. Watch the shows, read everything, and own the social conversation to stay at the cutting edge of denim micro-trends (think: the perfect rise, the next big leg shape, or breakthrough sustainable washes).
• Translate Trends into Action: Spot emerging trends before they blow up and instantly turn that insight into actionable, relevant denim product opportunities that define the season.

High-Impact Product Development

• Innovate Relentlessly: Inject a high volume of innovative and creative product ideas—with a keen eye on new fiber technology and finishing techniques for our BDG line—to support our aggressive brand goals.
• Collaborate for Perfection: Get those concepts runway-ready and strategically aligned by partnering closely with our exceptional in-house Design teams in the US and UK. Work seamlessly with Production to balance those big-dream design goals with the real-world stuff: quality, lead time, and value.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Own the Business: Proactively manage the Open to Buy (OTB) and use real-time trends to execute timely reorders (Kayla, we’re looking at you!), cancellations, and markdown strategies to maximize that sweet profitability.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Be a data champion. Analyze velocity, attributes (wash, rise, inseam), returns (with a focus on fit!), and markdowns to constantly optimize the assortment and mentor your team on using insights—not just gut feelings—to drive growth.
• Negotiate for Growth: Be a pro in negotiations. Leverage your expertise to nail down pricing, delivery, exclusivity (especially for our denim fit exclusivity), and terms that aggressively support our business goals.

Other Details:

• Work Location: Its always sunny in Philadelphia! You'll work at our beautiful 10 acre waterfront campus 5 days a week
• Reports to: GMM or DMM
• Manages: Assistant Buyers, Associate Buyers, and/or Buyers

#LI-ME1

Role Qualifications

What You Bring 

• Experience: 9+ years crushing it in a fast-paced buying role, with major experience in a high-volume denim or bottoms category. Bonus points if you’ve scaled a private label star like BDG.
• Education: A degree in Fashion, Merchandising, or the street smarts equivalent that shows you understand the industry inside and out.
• Denim Acumen: Expert knowledge of denim manufacturing, wash processes, fit development, and fabric innovation. You speak the language!
• Analytical Power: You’ve got full command of retail stats (IMU%, MD%, GM%, WOS, OTB, etc.) and can turn complex data into a crystal-clear business strategy.
• Cultural Fluency: A deep, demonstrated understanding of the target customer. Every product decision is a deliberate step to meet, and blow past, their expectations.
• Leadership & Influence: You build trust, inspire your cross-functional partners (Design, Planning, Production, Sourcing), and can communicate complex strategy to leadership without blinking. You're a mentor who develops junior talent and fosters a customer-centric, trend-responsive team culture.

If you are ready to apply your experience to one of the most exciting transformations in retail, come hang. Let's build the future of youth culture together!

The Perks

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

EEO Statement

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.