Buyer: Swimwear, Beachwear and Soft Accessories

About the role

Are you a highly accomplished fashion Buyer ready to lead the ultimate dual season destination category? We are looking for an experienced Buyer to take ownership of our Swimwear, Beachwear and Soft Accessories (gloves, scarves and hats) portfolio. From statement resort wear to winter essentials, this is an assortment of high strategic importance. Partnering with Merchandising, you will analyse multi‑channel market data to translate global holiday trends into a distinctive own‑brand and branded assortment, navigating complex supplier relationships and leading your team to commercial success.

• Salary: £55,600.00 – 84,100.00 per annum
• Salary up to: £65,000.00 per annum dependant on skill and experience
• Contract type: Fixed term contract until June 2027
• Hours and location of the role:
  • 35 hours per week
  • London, Pimlico Head Office
  • Hybrid; minimum 3 days per week in office – core days vary between teams

Key responsibilities:

• You will work at pace and agility within a collaborative environment with your Buying Manager, Merchandising team, Design team, Trading & Product Operations team and Product Technology, and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and external teams.
• You will be accountable for the commercial success of a product range defined with your Buying Manager, through range planning and agile in‑season trading.
• You will ensure up‑to‑date expert market knowledge for the category and can predict future market dynamics.
• You are accountable for building and maintaining strong brand relationships, ensuring adherence to required standards and agreed terms.
• You will be accountable for product development, range planning, product assortments, sourcing, brand positioning, price structure and margins, in line with category and customer strategy.
• In collaboration with merchandising colleagues, you will make season trading and volume decisions and set commercial terms and product lifecycle with suppliers.
• Deputise for your Buying Manager when appropriate.
• Foster a collaborative and high‑performance team culture, providing leadership, guidance and professional development to the buying team.
• Lead cross‑department success‑driven collaboration through effective stakeholder relationships.
• Responsible for coaching and developing your team of Buying Assistants.
• Support the Buying Manager L5 in building a product strategy.
• Develop and buy market‑leading branded and own‑brand ranges, managing product lifecycle from launch to exit.
• Collaborate with Merchandiser to prepare and share Standardised Range Plan, sign off product ranges and branch grading with buying leadership, using reporting from Product Operations.
• Propose balance to achieve across commercial KPIs for the assortment each month in collaboration with the Merchandiser.
• Work with and comply with all critical path requirements as necessary.

Essential skills and/or experience you’ll need:

• Extensive proven experience in own‑brand and branded buying.
• Experience of developing product without design support.
• Experience with supplier‑led design.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience leading strategic commercial negotiations to secure favourable terms and maximise value and profitability.
• In‑depth knowledge of the designated category, product trends, customer preferences and industry dynamics. Direct experience in range planning and product assortment development within the category is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, written and verbal.

Desirable skills and/or experience you may have:

• Swimwear category experience.