Junior Buyer and Product Developer - Upholstery, Soho

The Role…

Reporting to the Buying and Product Development Manager, the Junior Buyer and Product Developer will play an integral supporting role in the sourcing and product development strategy for Soho Home, bringing bespoke products to the retail marketplace.

As the Junior Buyer and Product Developer you will support the team to optimize the performance of the buying and product development functions, to execute design briefs to a high standard whilst maximizing profitability.

With the guidance of the Buying and Product Development Manager, you will support the sourcing strategy to ensure the department is operating in line with the objectives of the business, to add value and mitigate supply chain risk. As Junior Buyer and Product Developer, you will manage a Buying and Product Development Assistant to ensure all administrative and operational duties are delivered on time and with the upmost accuracy.

• Oversee the development critical path with the support of the Buying and Product Development Manager, ensuring key calendar milestones are always met
• With the support of a Buying and Product Development Assistant, manage all administrative tasks along the critical path and product lifecycle, from brief to first production and commercial trading
• Update and maintain the seasonal development tracker, ensuring all key dates along the development calendar are input
• Where necessary, manage a Buying and Product Development Assistant, setting a good example at all times
• Collaborate closely with the Soho Home Design team to ensure briefs are executed to the highest standard, whilst meeting commercial expectations of price and margin
• Issue seasonal briefs for the department to the identified suppliers, ensuring specifications, price targets and key deadlines are clearly communicated
• Attend weekly design and production meetings and final sample inspections, recording comments and preparing feedback for suppliers as required
• Communicate comments and/or product approvals to suppliers with the upmost attention to detail
• Work closely with the Technical team to ensure products meet the standard for quality, and all legal and safety requirements, for all relevant markets
• Assist the Buying and Product Development Manager with meeting preparations and with ad-hoc department tasks
• Lead the department trade preparation, presenting in the absence of the Manager
• Drive the commercial analysis of the department in collaboration with the Merchandising team to ensure brand sales opportunities are maximised
• Compile competitive analysis reports regularly for the department, scoping UK and US competitors
• Support the departments sub-category ranging for both the long and short term, with the UK, EU and US markets in mind
• Demonstrate strong awareness of competitors and external industry trends, completing competitor analysis reports when required
• Assist in all preparations required for prototype and finalisation meetings – report preparations, Best/Worst sales boards, and physical set up of the sample space/showcase. Support Assistants while overseeing all logistical elements to ensure samples are on time and in place as required.
• Oversee the briefing of bespoke packaging where required
• Support with the successful onboarding of new suppliers as and when required
• With the support of the Assistant, proactively manage customer service queries to drive the best resolution
• Attend trade fairs and travel to factories when required

• A minimum of 3 years product development and commercial buying experience
• An excellent communicator both written and verbally, with strong interpersonal skills
• Experience of working with a varied supply base, including domestic, European and Far East suppliers
• Naturally collaborative
• A…