Assistant Retail Buyer

Company: Portland Art Museum
Location: Portland
Posted on: May 3, 2025

Job Description:

Assistant Retail Buyer

Company Description
Hello, art person! We re so glad you re here.

When you think of an art museum, you might picture paintings or sculptures. But art is so much more than the traditional forms you re used to seeing in galleries. Nobody knows that better than Portland. Our city is bursting with all kinds of art forms from craft beverages and comic books to artisan chocolate and collectible sneakers. There s no one way to make art, and there s no one way to be an art person.

That s why you belong here. We re a place that has room for all kinds of art (and art people).

We are a dynamic institution with multiple locations. Adjacent to the Museum campus in downtown, Portland, PAM CUT // Center for the Untold Tomorrow is an inclusive, modern, and welcoming hub serving a broad range of artists and audiences across all media art. Also nearby is the nonprofit Rental Sales Gallery representing regional artists. Across the river, in SE Portland PAM CUT s Tomorrow Theater embraces cinematic storytelling in all its form through unique one-night-only events.

Job Description
The Assistant Retail Buyer role at The Shop at PAM plays a key operational and support role in the store s success, working closely with the Head of Retail to ensure a thoughtfully curated and profitable retail experience. This position combines behind the scenes coordination with a strong on floor presence, helping to deliver a high standard of visual merchandising, customer service, and team support.

The Shop at PAM is a bridge between art, culture, and the people PAM serves. The Shop will be a retail space that leaves a lasting impression, making every visitor feel like they've taken a piece of the museum's magic home with them. In pursuing this vision, The Shop at PAM will continuously evolve, adapt, and seek excellence, fostering a sense of wonder and exploration. Central to this mission is cultivating a distinctive atmosphere, one that reflects the museum s spirit and makes the shopping experience memorable and meaningful.

The Assistant Retail Buyer plays a key role in bringing this vision to life. They assist in selecting merchandise that reflects the museum s mission and exhibitions, while also coordinating with vendors, maintaining inventory, and supporting seasonal product transitions. In addition to supporting buying and merchandising, this role is highly visible and active on the sales floor. The Assistant Retail Buyer helps lead by example, ensuring the shop is visually compelling, well stocked, and aligned with the museum s brand. They work collaboratively with staff to maintain presentation standards and foster a welcoming, knowledgeable atmosphere for visitors and shoppers.

In this role, you will

Merchandising & Store Presentation

• Lead all merchandising efforts on the sales floor, ensuring a cohesive, visually appealing, and brand-aligned customer experience
  
• Create and execute floor sets and seasonal displays in coordination with marketing, curatorial themes, and event calendars
  
• Monitor and maintain merchandising standards daily, making real-time adjustments based on customer flow, inventory movement, and sales trends
  Buying Support
  
  • Support the Head Buyer in product research, vendor communication, purchase order creation, and new product intake
    
  • Track product performance and customer feedback, and make recommendations for reorders, markdowns, or new items
    
  • Assist with sample ordering and product vetting for special events and exhibitions
    Team Oversight & Sales Support
    
    • Provide on-the-floor leadership to retail associates during daily operations, ensuring excellent customer service and sales support
      
    • Oversee the The Shop Floor Supervisor and Shipping & Receiving Coordinator
      
    • Serve as point of contact for merchandising training and execution among sales associates
      Inventory & Logistics
      
      • Assist in receiving and tagging inventory, managing back stock, and coordinating restocks and product transfers
        
      • Ensure merchandise is floor-ready and appropriately signed and displayed according to current promotions or themes
        
      • Participate in periodic inventory counts and cycle counts, ensuring accuracy in the POS system
        Event & Campaign Execution
        
        • Collaborate with the Head Buyer and Events Team to execute shop-related activations tied to rentals, exhibition openings, and promotional events (e.g., trunk shows, wine tastings)
          
        • Lead setup, merchandising, and staffing for sales activations both within the Shop and in satellite pop-up spaces across the museum
          Additional Responsibilities
          
          • Attend Divisional meetings, and other Museum meetings/events in the absence of Head of Retail
            
          • Performs other related duties as assigned
            Supervisory Responsibilities
            
            • Directly supervises The Shop Floor Supervisor and the Receiving & Shipping Coordinator
              
            • Decisions are made within prescribed operating guidelines
              
            • Partially accountable for control of capital assets/equipment/store merchandise
              
            • Assist with long term planning and strategic planning in conjunction with the Head of Retail
              
            • Recruitment, mentoring, performance management, training & coaching. Serves as a leadership example being clear on the strategic direction of the department, being accountable and holding others accountable, and centering collaboration and the values of the Museum
              To be successful in this role, you have these requirements
              
              • 2 years of experience in a retail or merchandising role; museum or cultural institution experience a plus
                
              • Strong visual merchandising skills and eye for detail
                
              • Experience in vendor relations, POS systems, and inventory management
                
              • Comfortable in a physically active, customer-facing role requiring weekend and occasional evening hours
                
              • Excellent communication and organizational skills; team leadership experience preferred
                
              • Skilled at analyzing market trends, seasonal demands, and customer preferences
                
              • Knowledge of inventory control, stock turnover, and reordering strategies
                
              • Strong communication skills for coordinating with internal teams and external suppliers
                
              • Strong project management skills to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and coordinate with various departments
                
              • Understanding of branding and how product selection can enhance brand identity
                If you have any questions along the way including wanting to talk about a nontraditional career background, please reach out to HR.
                
                Job Conditions & Physical Activities
                
                • Schedule/Hours: 40 hours per week with a flexible schedule. Specific days of the week will vary based on business needs but the shop is currently open on Wednesday through Sunday
                  
                • Onsite/Not Remote
                  
                • Occasional travel
                  
                • Frequent weekend and occasional evening hours
                  
                • Extensive computer
                  
                • Frequent walking and standing for long periods of time
                  
                • Frequently communicating with staff and outside vendors
                  
                • Frequently bending, lifting, and close visual inspection of merchandise
                  
                • Occasionally lift/push/pull/carry merchandise, boxes, or supplies, typically weighing up to 25-50 pounds
                  
                • Frequently sitting for extended periods of time
                  
                • Occasionally traveling to offsite locations for vendor meetings, events, etc
                  This list highlights key physical and environmental conditions related to the role but is not an exhaustive representation of all job requirements. Additional tasks and expectations may apply based on operational needs.
                  
                  Benefits
                  
                  • This role is non-exempt/hourly and full-time
                    
                  • The budgeted compensation falls within pay grade H ($27.11 minimum - $31.85 midpoint - $36.60 maximum), based on experience.
                    
                  • Shift differentials (for hourly/non-exempt staff working onsite):
                    
                    • Evening hours (6:00 pm-12:00 am) will be paid an additional $1.00 per hour
                      
                    • Night hours (12:01 am-6:00 am) will be paid an additional $2.00 per hour
                    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
                      
                    • Retirement plan with employer match
                      
                    • Generous paid time off and holidays
                      
                    • Employee perks and discounts
                      Application Process for Assistant Retail Buyer
                      Ready to join our team? To be considered please submit your resume, cover letter, and four references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Application materials will be screened and interview candidates will be selected and notified by email. All applicants will be notified once the position is filled.

Keywords: Portland Art Museum, Beaver Creek , Assistant Retail Buyer, Hospitality & Tourism , Portland, Oregon