Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Sr. Retail Buyer

Los Angeles · Senior

Sponsorship not specified$93k-$109kDetected 22 days ago
Data AnalysisAccessibilityProduct ManagementProject ManagementNegotiationForecastingExcelProcurementInventory ManagementIntellectual PropertyLeadershipCommunicationCollaborationCritical Thinking

About the role

  • This role is responsible for shaping curated assortments and category strategies, identifying and negotiating with vendors, overseeing licensing and product development initiatives, and ensuring timely procurement and delivery of goods.

Responsibilities

  • Develop category plans, assortments, pricing, and inventory strategies aligned with audience, exhibition, and revenue goals.
  • Lead product development, sourcing, licensing, and exclusive merchandise initiatives that support the Museum's brand and mission.
  • Manage vendor relationships, negotiations, purchase orders, deliveries, and supply continuity.
  • Analyze sales, inventory, margins, and customer trends to optimize assortment performance and profitability.
  • Lead forecasting, replenishment, open-to-buy planning, and inventory management.
  • Prepare business reports, forecasts, and insights to support strategic retail planning.
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Creative, and Retail teams on product launches, promotions, merchandising, and storytelling across store channels.
  • Provide merchandising guidance, product knowledge, and assortment direction to support store readiness and sales performance.
  • Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations.
  • We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Requirements

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time during scheduled shifts.
  • Ability to lift, carry, unpack, and restock merchandise up to 30 pounds.
  • Strong understanding of merchandise planning, forecasting, inventory management, replenishment, and retail performance metrics, including sales, gross margin, inventory turns, and GMROI.
  • Experience with product development, licensing, branded merchandise, and intellectual property considerations.
  • Ability to analyze sales trends, customer insights, and market data to make strategic buying decisions and identify growth opportunities.
  • They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.
  • 7+ years of progressive experience in retail buying, category management, merchandising, or product development, preferably within museum retail, specialty retail, lifestyle brands, cultural institutions, or other curated retail environments.
  • Proven success developing and managing category strategies, curated assortments, pricing, inventory investments, open-to-buy plans, and vendor partnerships that drive sales, margin, and inventory productivity.
  • Demonstrated experience sourcing products, negotiating commercial terms, managing vendor relationships, and overseeing the product lifecycle from concept through execution.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences through thoughtfully curated merchandise assortments.
  • Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) and creating welcoming experiences for all guests and team members.
  • Passion for supporting efficient retail operations that align with the Museum's mission, brand, and values

Nice to have

  • High School Diploma or GED required
  • bachelor's degree in business, Merchandising, Retail Management, Economics, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
  • Proficiency with retail planning, inventory management, and reporting systems
  • advanced Excel and data analysis skills preferred.

Compensation

  • Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates' education and experience.

Benefits

  • All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve.
  • Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates' education and experience.

Company info

  • ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling.
  • Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum's collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N.
  • Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F.
  • Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R.
  • Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange.
  • The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas's filmmaking career.
  • Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.
  • Our mission is to inspire and connect people through the exploration of visual stories and their influences in society.

Equal opportunity

  • The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents and supports a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Lucas Museum fosters a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, whether based on race, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the best qualified people from a diverse candidate pool. Applications from traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged.
  • The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.
  • AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEAIB The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art embraces diversity and equal opportunity.
  • We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the best qualified people from a diverse candidate pool.
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This listing is sourced directly from Lucas Museum of Narrative Art's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.