Head of Buying - Stylerunner

Accen; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Stylerunner is seeking an experienced Head of Buying to lead the end-to-end strategy for footwear and apparel. You will own the range architecture, drive sales and margins, and manage inventory productivity for both exclusive and branded products.

You will lead a buying team and partner across planning, marketing, retail and digital to deliver standout products. You will bring deep footwear buying expertise, strong brand relationships, and a proven track record in both apparel and footwear

Qualifications

• 5+ years buying experience in fashion, footwear or sporting goods retail.
• 2–3 years in a senior or head-of-category buying role.
• Strong footwear buying experience including sneaker/lifestyle and/or performance categories.
• Experience across apparel and footwear with balanced range investment.
• Deep knowledge of sneaker, lifestyle and performance footwear market.
• Commercial mindset with sales, margin and inventory management.
• Experience managing Open-to-Buy.
• Strong negotiation skills and brand relationships.
• Leadership experience developing and empowering teams.
• Analytical, strategic and decisive in decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead the seasonal buying strategy and range architecture across footwear and apparel.
• Own the commercial performance of categories – sales, margin, inventory productivity.
• Manage Open-to-Buy in partnership with Planning.
• Build and strengthen relationships with brand partners.
• Negotiate trading terms, allocations, exclusivity and opportunities.
• Ensure delivery of in-demand brands, products, exclusives and SMUs.
• Collaborate with Brand, Design and Product Development on differentiated product.
• Analyse sales performance, sell-through and category trends.
• Work with Marketing and Visual Merchandising on launches and campaigns.
• Stay ahead of trends and competitor activity; identify opportunities.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing buying team.
• Represent Stylerunner at brand appointments and events.

Skills

Footwear buying

Senior buyer

Brand relationships

Open-to-Buy

Negotiation

Analytics

Leadership

Apparel knowledge

Market knowledge

Strategic thinking

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Head of Buying to lead the next chapter of our product and buying strategy for Stylerunner.

The Head of Buying is accountable for the end-to-end buying strategy and range architecture across Stylerunner’ s apparel and footwear categories. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract responsible for translating brand and customer strategy into a commercially balanced, on-trend range that delivers sales, gross margin and inventory productivity targets across both vertical (owned/exclusive) and branded footwear and apparel.

The role requires deep, demonstrated footwear buying expertise (critical), including brand relationships, sneaker/lifestyle and performance category knowledge. Experience in apparel and vertical product development/buying also advantageous, combined with the commercial and leadership capability to manage a buying team and partner across planning, marketing, retail and digital.

What you'll do

• Lead the seasonal buying strategy and range architecture across footwear and apparel
• Own the commercial performance of your categories, driving sales, margin and inventory productivity
• Manage Open-to-Buy in partnership with the Planning team
• Build and strengthen relationships with key footwear and apparel brand partners
• Negotiate trading terms, allocations, exclusivity and commercial opportunities
• Ensure Stylerunner continues to deliver the most in-demand brands, products, exclusive collaborations and SMUs
• Partner with Brand, Design and Product Development teams to deliver differentiated vertical and exclusive product
• Analyse sales performance, sell-through and category trends to drive in-season trading decisions
• Work closely with Marketing and Visual Merchandising to bring key launches and campaigns to life
• Stay ahead of footwear, sneaker, fashion and lifestyle trends, competitor activity and emerging opportunities
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing buying team
• Represent Stylerunner at brand appointments, market meetings and key industry events

What we're looking for

• You’ll bring 5+ years' buying experience in fashion, footwear or sporting goods retail, with at least 2–3 years in a senior or head-of-category buying role.
• Strong, demonstrated footwear buying experience is essential — including sneaker/lifestyle and/or performance categories; footwear vertical/exclusive product development experience highly regarded.
• Proven experience buying across both apparel and footwear categories, with the commercial judgement to balance range investment across the two.
• An experienced buyer with deep knowledge of the sneaker, lifestyle and/or performance footwear market
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of sales, margin and inventory management
• Experienced managing Open-to-Buy and building commercially successful ranges
• A confident negotiator with strong relationships across brand and supplier networks
• Passionate about product, fashion, footwear and what customers want next
• Experienced in balancing branded, exclusive and vertical product opportunities
• A strong people leader who enjoys developing and empowering their team
• Highly analytical, strategic and confident making commercial decisions
• Connected to the Australian footwear and sneaker landscape
• Proactive, influential and always looking for the next opportunity
• Understanding of the Australian footwear and sneaker retail landscape and key brand partners is highly regarded.

Why Join Us?

This is your opportunity to lead the buying strategy for one of Australia's most exciting women's fashion and lifestyle destinations.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape the product our customers see next — from the world's most sought-after footwear brands to exclusive collaborations and differentiated product that sets Stylerunner apart!