Description
Merchandise Buyer/Product Development Manager (Full-Time)
Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is a 365-entertainment destination for world-class events located in Austin, TX. The sports and entertainment portfolio at COTA is unmatched in the country with Formula 1 US Grand Prix, NASCAR and MotoGP attracting global fans during championship races on the famed Circuit and Live Nation producing over 30 headline concerts every year at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Opening in 2026, COTA’s amusement park, COTALAND, is on over 30-acres featuring two first of their kind Roller Coasters and 30 rides.
Job Description:
The Merchandise Buyer & Product Development Manager is responsible for the complete, end-to-end product lifecycle for COTALAND merchandise and apparel. This critical role blends creative product development—managing items from concept through final production—with strategic purchasing and financial management. The Manager will ensure a brand-aligned, high-quality product assortment that maximizes sales, margin, and inventory efficiency. The ideal candidate is an analytical, results-driven leader with proven expertise in global sourcing, vendor negotiation, and retail trend analysis. This role will play an integral part in the execution and initial setup of merchandising for COTALAND. This includes contributing to the product planning, sourcing, and development strategy necessary to launch retail operations successfully in newly created amusement and theme park venues.
Requirements
Requirements & Essential Functions:
Product Development & Quality Assurance
- Concept-to-Production: Develop and manage merchandise—including apparel, accessories, souvenirs, and specialty items—from initial creative concept through final production and delivery.
- Design & Brand Collaboration: Partner with internal design and marketing teams to translate the COTALAND brand identity into compelling, executable product concepts.
- Sourcing & Materials: Research and source new materials, components, and suppliers to support product innovation and ensure cost efficiency and quality standards.
- Sample & Compliance: Track product development milestones, manage the sample review and approval process (ensuring adherence to design intent, fit, color, and quality), and maintain accurate documentation (tech packs, style sheets, cost analyses).
- Quality Control: Work with vendors and compliance teams to ensure all products meet required legal, safety, and brand quality standards.
Strategic Buying & Merchandise Planning
- Financial Strategy: Develop and execute comprehensive merchandise strategies and open-to-buy (OTB) budgets to meet financial objectives for sales, margin, and inventory turnover.
- Demand Forecasting: Analyze sales data, market trends, and customer insights to accurately forecast demand and inform purchasing decisions and product assortments.
- Assortment Building: Collaborate cross-functionally to build balanced, data-informed assortments across categories, price points, and consumer segments.
Vendor Management & Sourcing Logistics
- Vendor Sourcing & Negotiation: Identify, evaluate, and source merchandise and manufacturers globally. Expertly negotiate cost, terms, and delivery schedules to achieve optimal pricing and profitability.
- Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with vendors and manufacturers to support collaboration, innovation, and reliable, timely product delivery.
- Supply Chain Oversight: Apply knowledge of sourcing, logistics, and supply chain best practices to resolve issues related to product specs, quality, and timelines.
Inventory & Financial Control
- Inventory Management: Monitor and manage inventory levels to avoid overstock or stockouts, and proactively manage replenishment, markdowns, and product flow.
- Financial Tracking: Track performance against the OTB budget, providing regular updates on purchasing performance and financial opportunities.
Market, Leadership, and Decision Skills
- Market Analysis: Stay informed on competitor activity, consumer behavior, and industry trends by attending trade shows and market appointments to identify growth opportunities.
- Results Driven: Drives the team and the organization for results, demonstrating the ability to make timely and planned decisions appropriate to the circumstances.
- Adaptability: Responds quickly and effectively to changing trends and circumstances, embracing change and adjusting strategy accordingly.
- Organizational Management: Strong ability to organize people and processes and create a plan for resourceful workflow, ensuring projects are completed efficiently.
- Communication: Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate, relate to all levels within and outside the organization, and build positive relationships.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 5+ years of combined, progressive experience in buying, merchandise planning, and product development, ideally within retail, sports, entertainment, or branded consumer goods.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Product Development, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Excel (for analysis and OTB management) and familiarity with design tools (such as Adobe Illustrator) and inventory/buying systems.
- Core Skills: Strong analytical skills, proven negotiation and vendor relationship management skills, and excellent attention to detail and project management capabilities.
- Work Environment: Ability to work independently and cross-functionally in a dynamic, fast-paced, on-site environment.
Physical Demand & Work Environments:
- Ability to stand, sit, use of hands to handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms.
- Ability to lift and/ or move up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to squat, bend, twist, push/pull.
- Ability to stand/walk for long periods.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud during events.
Salary commensurate with experience
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
COTA strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
