Associate Buyer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Associate Buyer roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or a related field. Employers in retail, fashion, and consumer goods regularly file LCAs through DOL, making this one of the more sponsorship-active paths in the procurement and merchandising space.
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Get Access To All JobsAt DICK'S Sporting Goods, we believe in how positively sports can change lives. On our team, everyone plays a critical role in creating confidence and excitement by personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, reflecting the communities we serve.
If you are ready to make a difference as part of the world's greatest sports team, apply to join our team today!
Overview:
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop Category Assortments
- Develop and manage merchandise assortments for subcategory of product, in partnership with the buyer. Ensure the assortment meets the consumer's needs and the brand vision.
- Collaborate with business partners in Planning and Allocations to review financial plans and ensure alignment between financial expectations and assortment.
- Participate in negotiations with existing and new vendors. This includes securing the terms of vendor contracts, pricing and setting expectations for the partnership. Partner with the Buyer on approach and management of the relationship.
- Analyze economic, financial, market, competitive/noncompetitive and industry data to assess current business strategies or identify future business opportunities. Speak to trends, by translating opportunity into actionable assortment, pricing and experience decisions. Gain alignment with the Buyer.
-
Present pre-season line review to leaders up to Chief Merchant. Demonstrate expertise in product category and financial expectations.
-
Manage In-Season Business
- Work closely with Planning and AR on shifts in business trajectory. Leverage performance indicators and open to buy position throughout the season to chase opportunities and mitigate risk.
-
Assess opportunities and react to trends within the business, including identifying the underlying cause. This includes updates to advertising, pricing, assortment needs and digital strategies.
-
Execute Operational Needs of the Category
- Deliver accurate execution of the tasks associated with new line delivery (style setup/creation, PO writing, etc.)
- Review and analyze department reporting. Based on analysis, provide action plan to management for buy-in. Once approved, execute the plan accordingly.
-
Own the execution of the advertising strategy from Promo Planning activities to ad proof accuracy.
-
Develop Effective Partnerships
- Build strategic relationships with vendors and cross functional partners and Directors to discuss the business overall, recent trends, etc. Leverage vendor relationships to gain knowledge and data as it pertains to product category.
- Participate in market trips to stores to assess and monitor performance and customer satisfaction. Seek to gain insights from field leadership and employees.
-
Ensure accurate and timely communication with the Visual team on upcoming Gameplans to gain alignment with category strategy. This includes offering product placement recommendations and communicating adjustments.
-
Develop Self and Others
- Train and mentor new hires by sharing experience, knowledge and best practices.
- Establish best practices across the larger team to drive productivity and efficiencies. Participate in and act as a representative for the Buying office on cross-functional projects and focus groups as needed. Ensure the intricacies of product category are integrated in system, process and reporting enhancements.
- Act as mentor or coach to Assistant Buyers or Merch Admins within team. Share feedback on projects, tasks and deliverables.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Merchandising or related field or equivalent retail experience
- 3-5 years of experience with preferred experience as an Assistant Buyer
VIRTUAL REQUIREMENTS:
At DICK'S, we thrive on innovation and authenticity. That said, to protect the integrity and security of our hiring process, we ask that candidates do not use AI tools (like ChatGPT or others) during interviews or assessments.
To ensure a smooth and secure experience, please note the following:
- Cameras must be on during all virtual interviews.
- AI tools are not permitted to be used by the candidate during any part of the interview process.
- Offers are contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include ID verification.
If you have any questions or need accommodations, we're here to help. Thanks for helping us keep the process fair and secure for everyone!
At DICK'S Sporting Goods, we believe in how positively sports can change lives. On our team, everyone plays a critical role in creating confidence and excitement by personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, reflecting the communities we serve.
If you are ready to make a difference as part of the world's greatest sports team, apply to join our team today!
Overview:
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop Category Assortments
- Develop and manage merchandise assortments for subcategory of product, in partnership with the buyer. Ensure the assortment meets the consumer's needs and the brand vision.
- Collaborate with business partners in Planning and Allocations to review financial plans and ensure alignment between financial expectations and assortment.
- Participate in negotiations with existing and new vendors. This includes securing the terms of vendor contracts, pricing and setting expectations for the partnership. Partner with the Buyer on approach and management of the relationship.
- Analyze economic, financial, market, competitive/noncompetitive and industry data to assess current business strategies or identify future business opportunities. Speak to trends, by translating opportunity into actionable assortment, pricing and experience decisions. Gain alignment with the Buyer.
-
Present pre-season line review to leaders up to Chief Merchant. Demonstrate expertise in product category and financial expectations.
-
Manage In-Season Business
- Work closely with Planning and AR on shifts in business trajectory. Leverage performance indicators and open to buy position throughout the season to chase opportunities and mitigate risk.
-
Assess opportunities and react to trends within the business, including identifying the underlying cause. This includes updates to advertising, pricing, assortment needs and digital strategies.
-
Execute Operational Needs of the Category
- Deliver accurate execution of the tasks associated with new line delivery (style setup/creation, PO writing, etc.)
- Review and analyze department reporting. Based on analysis, provide action plan to management for buy-in. Once approved, execute the plan accordingly.
-
Own the execution of the advertising strategy from Promo Planning activities to ad proof accuracy.
-
Develop Effective Partnerships
- Build strategic relationships with vendors and cross functional partners and Directors to discuss the business overall, recent trends, etc. Leverage vendor relationships to gain knowledge and data as it pertains to product category.
- Participate in market trips to stores to assess and monitor performance and customer satisfaction. Seek to gain insights from field leadership and employees.
-
Ensure accurate and timely communication with the Visual team on upcoming Gameplans to gain alignment with category strategy. This includes offering product placement recommendations and communicating adjustments.
-
Develop Self and Others
- Train and mentor new hires by sharing experience, knowledge and best practices.
- Establish best practices across the larger team to drive productivity and efficiencies. Participate in and act as a representative for the Buying office on cross-functional projects and focus groups as needed. Ensure the intricacies of product category are integrated in system, process and reporting enhancements.
- Act as mentor or coach to Assistant Buyers or Merch Admins within team. Share feedback on projects, tasks and deliverables.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Merchandising or related field or equivalent retail experience
- 3-5 years of experience with preferred experience as an Assistant Buyer
VIRTUAL REQUIREMENTS:
At DICK'S, we thrive on innovation and authenticity. That said, to protect the integrity and security of our hiring process, we ask that candidates do not use AI tools (like ChatGPT or others) during interviews or assessments.
To ensure a smooth and secure experience, please note the following:
- Cameras must be on during all virtual interviews.
- AI tools are not permitted to be used by the candidate during any part of the interview process.
- Offers are contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include ID verification.
If you have any questions or need accommodations, we're here to help. Thanks for helping us keep the process fair and secure for everyone!
See all 87+ Associate Buyer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Buyer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Associate Buyer Jobs
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree field and the Associate Buyer role. A degree in supply chain management, business, or merchandising strengthens the specialty occupation argument more than a general arts or unrelated STEM degree.
Search LCA filings by job title
Retail and consumer goods employers file LCAs under titles like 'Associate Buyer,' 'Assistant Buyer,' and 'Merchandise Planner.' Cross-reference all three on the OFLC Wage Search to identify which companies have active H-1B certification history in your target category.
Target vertically integrated retailers first
Department stores and specialty retailers with in-house buying teams handle sponsorship internally and file consistently. Smaller boutique importers often outsource procurement and lack the HR infrastructure to sponsor visas, making them lower-probability targets for Associate Buyer candidates.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Filter Associate Buyer and procurement roles on Migrate Mate by employers with confirmed LCA filing history. This cuts out companies that list jobs without sponsorship intent and focuses your applications on hiring managers already familiar with the H-1B process.
Clarify sponsorship timing before offer stage
Many retail employers assume OPT covers your first year and delay LCA filing until cap season. Clarify during the interview whether the company will file for H-1B sponsorship before your OPT expires, not after, to avoid a gap in work authorization.
Prepare for prevailing wage documentation
Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for 'Purchasing Agents' and cross-check wage levels by metro area before negotiating your offer so there are no filing surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Buyer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Associate Buyer positions in retail, fashion, or consumer goods typically require degrees in supply chain, business, or merchandising, which satisfies the specialty occupation threshold. Roles framed as general buying support with no degree requirement are harder to approve.
Which visa types are realistic for an Associate Buyer without U.S. citizenship?
H-1B is the most common path for Associate Buyers, subject to the annual cap and lottery. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and renews indefinitely. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to an eligible USMCA profession, though Buyer roles have been approved inconsistently at the border and require careful job description framing.
How do I find Associate Buyer employers who actively sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate lists Associate Buyer and procurement roles from employers with verified LCA filing history, so you can focus on companies already engaged in sponsorship rather than guessing from job postings. Applying to employers with a track record of H-1B or E-3 visa filings in merchandising and retail significantly improves your odds of getting through the HR screening stage.
What degree does an employer typically require to sponsor an Associate Buyer on an H-1B?
Most sponsoring employers require a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, retail merchandising, or a closely related field. USCIS scrutinizes whether the degree requirement is consistent across job postings and whether the role genuinely requires that field of study. A general business degree can work, but the stronger the alignment between your major and the buying function, the cleaner the petition.
Can an employer sponsor an Associate Buyer for a green card through PERM?
Yes. EB-2 and EB-3 green card sponsorship is available for Associate Buyer roles, typically through the PERM labor certification process, which requires the employer to demonstrate no qualified U.S. workers are available. EB-3 is more common for this level given the two-year experience requirement. India and China nationals face significant priority date backlogs, while other nationalities generally see shorter waits.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Associate Buyer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.