Buying Manager

Cotton On Group; Geelong; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Onsite restaurant access

Discounts on Cotton On brands

Wellness programs

Job summary

Cotton On Group in Geelong is seeking a commercially driven Buying Manager to lead our Menswear Denim, Pants, Shorts, Shirts & Jackets category. You’ll shape end-to-end buying strategy, deliver ranges balancing fashion, essentials and volume, and drive sales, margin and brand relevance.

You’ll guide a high-performing buying team, collaborate with Design, Planning and Marketing, and translate strategy into category direction with speed and customer focus.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Buying Manager or Senior Buyer role within a retail or brand environment.
• Strong product instinct, with a clear understanding of customer and brand DNA.
• Track record of delivering commercially successful ranges across multiple categories.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how buying decisions impact sales, margin and performance.
• Experience translating strategy into clear category direction and product outcomes.
• Proven leadership capability, with the ability to coach and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence.
• Ability to operate with pace, clarity and strong decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
• Global perspective, with experience working across markets.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver category buying strategy aligned to brand direction and DNA.
• Build and execute range frameworks that balance newness, volume and profitability.
• Lead buy decisions across categories, delivering against sales, margin and mix targets.
• Identify and drive key items to maximise category performance.
• Actively trade the business, making fast, commercially led decisions based on performance and insights.
• Partner closely with Planning to align investment, timing and inventory strategy.
• Collaborate with Design to bring cohesive, customer-right product to life.
• Work cross-functionally with Production, Marketing and Digital teams to deliver end-to-end product outcomes.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing buying team.

Skills

Buying management experience

Retail experience

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Category management

Decision making

Job description

Born in Australia, loved around the world.

At Cotton On, we know good style goes well beyond what's in your wardrobe. We’re here to inspire, spark joy and bolster self-expression and creativity. We want our community to feel seen, heard and celebrated, and as a brand, we want to use our voice to make a positive difference in people's lives.

We’re playfully rebellious and always optimistic. Join our world and let's do good things together.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a commercially driven and strategic Buying Manager to join our Menswear team working within the Denim, Pants, Shorts, Shirts & Jackets category.

In this role, you’ll shape how product comes together across your categories — owning the end-to-end buying strategy to deliver ranges that balance fashion, essentials and volume, driving strong sales, margin and brand relevance.

You’ll lead with both vision and pace, translating strategy into clear category direction and building high-performing ranges that resonate with our customer.

You will:

• Own and deliver category buying strategy aligned to brand direction and DNA
• Build and execute range frameworks that balance newness, volume and profitability
• Lead buy decisions across categories, delivering against sales, margin and mix targets
• Identify and drive key items to maximise category performance
• Actively trade the business, making fast, commercially led decisions based on performance and insights
• Partner closely with Planning to align investment, timing and inventory strategy
• Collaborate with Design to bring cohesive, customer-right product to life
• Work cross-functionally with Production, Marketing and Digital teams to deliver end-to-end product outcomes
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing buying team

If you’re passionate about product, thrive on commercial decision-making and love leading teams to deliver results — we’d love to meet you.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience in a Buying Manager or Senior Buyer role within a retail or brand environment
• Strong product instinct, with a clear understanding of customer and brand DNA
• Track record of delivering commercially successful ranges across multiple categories
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how buying decisions impact sales, margin and performance
• Experience translating strategy into clear category direction and product outcomes
• Proven leadership capability, with the ability to coach and develop high-performing teams
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence
• Ability to operate with pace, clarity and strong decision-making in a fast-paced environment
• Global perspective, with experience working across markets

BENEFITS

• Flexible working options & people-first leave initiatives
• Access to our world-class Support Centre, with an in-house restaurant & state-of-the-art wellness centre featuring free gym & holistic health services
• Subsidised onsite childcare centre
• 50% off our Brands | Cotton On, Cotton On Body, Cotton On Kids, Rubi Shoes, Typo, Factorie & Supre
• 24/7 Wellness support – mental health, relationships, family + more
• Local & Global career growth
• Discounts for you & your family – medical, travel, financial + more
• Performance & Peak incentives to reward + recognise our team
• Returnity - Paid program for new parents heading back to work
• Bring your dog to work
• Recognition, team connection moments & more!

Cotton On’s purpose is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Born in Australia, Cotton On is a global fashion and lifestyle retailer with eight brands across 22 countries and 1,500 stores. Powered by 20,000 team members, who together with our customers, are making a positive impact through one life-changing Foundation. Taking their Aussie lifestyle to the world and delivering Good along the way, Cotton On brands offer youthful fashion and lifestyle products across women's, men’s, kids, body, accessories and stationery.

We are proud of our diverse global workforce of 20,000 team members from countless nationalities, and we strongly welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply with us.

We are focused on bringing more voices, experiences and backgrounds to our workforce as we drive diverse and inclusive outcomes for our team and our customers.

If you have any individual needs in order to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] so we may support you in completing the job application process.