Design and Buying Executive

Design and Buying Executive
Fixed term (6 months), Full-time – London
£31,114 per annum

Our vision is to inspire everyone with the RAF story - the people who shape it and its place in our lives.

Our museum commitments are the golden thread that run through everything that we do. These are:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Sustainability

What We Are Looking For

The Royal Air Force Museum is looking for a passionate, creative and organised Buying & Design Executive to join our Retail & Admissions team on a maternity cover contract.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring retail professional to develop their skills across buying, product development, design, merchandising and e-commerce within one of the UK's leading museums. Working closely with the Head of Retail & Admissions, you will play a key role in supporting the Museum's retail operation, helping to develop and deliver a commercially successful and engaging product range that reflects the RAF Museum's brand and visitor experience.

The successful candidate will combine a strong eye for design with excellent organisational and analytical skills. You will support the buying process from product concept through to delivery, create product packaging and labels, develop digital assets for our online shop, and work closely with suppliers and Museum retail teams to ensure our product offer remains fresh, relevant and commercially effective.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the buying and product development process across the Museum's retail ranges.
• Create product packaging, labels and point-of-sale materials using design software.
• Develop, edit and enhance product imagery using design tools and AI-powered software for use across e-commerce and marketing channels.
• Manage and upload product content, images and information to the Museum's online shop.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding product development, artwork, orders and deliveries.
• Work closely with Museum shop teams to support stock management and product performance.
• Assist with merchandising, stock control and retail analysis.
• Raise and process purchase orders for retail products, shop equipment and consumables.
• Monitor sales and stock performance, helping to identify opportunities to increase sales and improve availability.
• Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the retail function.

About You

• Passionate about retail, product development and customer experience.
• Creative, with strong visual design skills and attention to detail.
• Experienced in using design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva or similar platforms.
• Comfortable using AI tools and image creation software to develop digital content.
• Highly organised and capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Numerically confident, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive self-starter with a positive, flexible and 'can-do' attitude.
• An excellent communicator, able to build effective relationships with suppliers and colleagues.

Previous experience within a retail buying, merchandising, e-commerce or product development environment would be advantageous, but we are equally interested in candidates with the enthusiasm and potential to develop their skills in these areas.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands‑on experience across buying, design, e-commerce and retail operations within a unique cultural organisation. You'll work with a varied and distinctive product range, contribute to exciting new product launches, and help shape the retail experience enjoyed by visitors and customers both in our museums and online.

Reporting to the Head of Retail & Admissions, this position is ideal for an ambitious retail professional looking to broaden their commercial and creative experience and take the next step in their career.

The role will be based at our London site.

The closing date for applications is: 12 November 2026

Interviews will take place on: 23 November 2026

National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN