Senior Assistant Buyer - FTC

The Role

We are on the lookout for aSenior Assistant Buyer to support the Senior Buyer in delivering a commercially effective product range that meets customer needs and maximises sales and profitability.

The role involves close management of critical timelines, applying strong commercial and strategic insight, and driving performance through informed decision-making.

The successful candidate will take ownership of a specific category or area, while also supporting the Senior Buyer, deputising when required, and coaching and developing the Buying Assistant.

• Identify and analyse best and worst sellers to be presented in Monday trade meetings, feeding back key points to the Senior Buyer accordingly. Suggest opportunities to improve sales on poorer performing lines.
• Review and analyse sales at weekly and seasonal level by territory and channel to identify future opportunities and strategies.
• Complete supplier ratings and SWOT analysis to form supplier strategy.
• Present the range to the creative, photography and web teams, highlighting key selling features and marketing messages in order to best promote the product across all channels.

• Conduct regular CT store visits and feed back to the team/ Senior Buyer.
• Conduct regular comp shop trips to maintain knowledge of the competitive market, and feed back relevant findings to the Senior Buyer. Make informed suggestions to support department growth and develop new product ideas.

• Develop a product area or sub-range, under the guidance of the Senior Buyer.
• Build the range through range framework sheet to create a balanced and commercial range for all territories and channels.
• Alongside the Senior Buyer & Designer, order, receipt, review and approve CADs, lab dips, knit-downs, handlooms, strike-offs and sample lengths according to critical dates.
• Prepare for, attend and present in all seasonal Range meetings to the senior leadership team
• Review proto and photo samples with Senior Buyer, Designer and Technologist to agree all final product details. Communicate comments to suppliers, ensuring they receive amended design & tech packs.

• Set up negotiation sheets, obtaining all cost prices and negotiating to ensure target margin is achieved on specific category or area.

• Attend new development risk assessment meetings and, alongside Design and Technical teams, agree styles for wearer trial and further testing.
• Ensure tech packs are correct and support the briefing of new developments to suppliers.
• Attend seasonal fit sessions, working with the Technologist, Designer & Senior Buyer to suggest improvements to product fit and finish.
• Attend fit sessions with Technologist, ensure timely approval is given of fit, sealer and shipment samples in accordance with critical dates. Ensure suppliers are updated, with correct specifications, in a timely manner.
• Analyse returns reports with the Technologist and communicate results to the Senior Buyer.

• Take full accountability for meeting all critical path dates.
• Collate and analyse all key trigger dates to form the department’s seasonal critical path, agreeing all deadlines with suppliers. Highlight any alerts to the Senior Buyer & Merchandiser.
• Oversee the BAA management of the critical path by supplier and department, solving problems efficiently and updating the Senior Buyer to prevent delays.

• Experienced Assistant Buyer in a Retail business
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the buying and product cycles
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload
• Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills- the ability to initiate and build strong relationships within the team, across functions and with suppliers
• Commercial awareness of the market and competitors
• Strong negotiation skills
• Strong understanding of the manufacturing processes, including garment and fabric make and finishing, and their implications on total lead times
• Strong numerical, analytical and interpretive skills
• A confident presenter, who can influence
• Excellent problem-solving skills…