HWS Store Vice President of Purchasing

Position Title: HWS Store Student Vice President of Purchasing 

Semester/Year: 2026 Fall Semester

Total Positions Available: 1

Supervisor: Kristen Tapscott

Pay rate: $16

Hours per week: 20

Start Date: August 31, 2026

End Date: December 11, 2026

Summary

Under the general guidance of the Director of the College Store and Store Experience and in partnership with the Student Chief Executive Officer (Student CEO), the Student Vice President of Purchasing serves as the student leader responsible for supporting product selection, merchandise planning, and inventory coordination for the College Store.

The Student Vice President of Purchasing works collaboratively with store leadership and the student executive team to ensure the store carries merchandise that reflects the interests and needs of the Hobart and William Smith community. This role supports vendor coordination, monitors product performance, and helps identify opportunities for new merchandise, student-designed products, and campus partnerships.

This position provides hands-on leadership experience in retail buying, merchandising strategy, vendor relations, and data-informed decision making within a student-powered campus retail environment.

Qualifications

• Current Hobart and William Smith student in good academic standing.
• Strong interest in business, retail, entrepreneurship, marketing, or merchandising.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with store leadership and student team members.
• Interest in identifying products and brands that resonate with the student community.
• Ability to balance leadership responsibilities with academic commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in retail buying, merchandising strategy, or consumer behavior.
• Experience working in retail, customer service, or product merchandising environments.
• Interest in trend research, product development, or brand partnerships.
• Ability to interpret sales trends and make recommendations for product improvements or new merchandise opportunities.
• Interest in developing creative merchandise ideas that enhance the College Store experience for the HWS community.

Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning, Product Selection, and Vendor Coordination (70%)

• Supports the selection and development of merchandise assortments that reflect student interests, campus traditions, and current retail trends.
• Collaborates with the Director of the College Store and Student CEO to identify new products, apparel brands, and lifestyle merchandise for the store.
• Assists in researching vendors, comparing product options, and evaluating pricing and quality of potential merchandise.
• Monitors inventory levels and product availability to help ensure appropriate stock levels for high-demand items.
• Participates in reviewing sales trends to identify best-selling products, seasonal opportunities, and items that may require replenishment or adjustment.
• Supports the coordination of new merchandise launches and product introductions in collaboration with the marketing team.
• Helps identify opportunities for student-designed merchandise, collaborations with campus organizations, and partnerships with local vendors or alumni makers.
• Assists in maintaining organized records related to product selection, vendor communication, and merchandise planning.
• Participates in general responsibilities around the store as needed, such as inventorying, assisting with sales, and ensuring upkeep of the store.

Inventory Insights and Strategic Merchandise Initiatives (30%)

• Analyzes sales performance and product trends to support data-informed purchasing decisions.
• Provides recommendations for new merchandise categories, brand partnerships, or product expansions that may enhance the store’s offerings.
• Supports inventory planning efforts by helping review sell-through rates and identifying slow-moving products.
• Collaborates with the Student Vice President of Marketing to coordinate product promotions and highlight new merchandise.
• Participates in brainstorming and planning sessions focused on enhancing the retail experience and expanding the College Store product assortment.
• Contributes ideas for seasonal merchandise strategies tied to key campus moments such as Orientation, Family Weekend, Homecoming, and graduation.

Compensation includes the hourly student wage plus academic credit in coordination with Business Management faculty. Depending on the commitment of hours, the student can elect either:

• INT 199 (.5 credit) for 120 hours or less, with no essay required.

         Or

• INT 299 (1 credit) for 240 hours or less, with an academic essay and presentation required at the end of the experience

Students hired into on-campus jobs must complete federal employment paperwork, including the Form I9. Students must present original documents indicating they are eligible to work in the U.S. Photocopies of documents cannot be accepted. Students should ensure they have their documents on campus or have a plan to get their documents to campus if they are hired to work on campus.