Assistant Buyer - Advanced - Footwear - 12 month FTC

Marks & Spencer Plc; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the United Kingdom seeks a Footwear Assistant Buyer to support the Buyer in managing product offerings and collaborating with global teams. The ideal candidate will have footwear experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a proactive approach. This role is office-based three days per week and offers a 12-month fixed-term contract with various employee benefits.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus schemes

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Training programmes

Wellbeing support

Charity volunteer day

Qualifications

• Experience in footwear is required with an exceptional product eye.
• Experience buyer for own area, managing costings and product development.
• Ability to interpret and adapt to market trends.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buyer in understanding customer segments and needs.
• Work with Design to analyse historical sales and manage product mix.
• Promote collaboration with global Sourcing Offices.

Skills

Footwear experience

Relevant buying experience

Strong interpersonal skills

Highly organized

Proactive attitude

Job description

Overview

From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time. As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results-orientated colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial aim to join us on our journey. To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected. Please note this is a 12 month fixed term contract.

We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you\'re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you’ll do

As the Footwear Assistant Buyer Advanced on Womenswear your key accountabilities will include

• Support the Buyer by displaying a clear understanding of M&S’ customer, ensuring the segments and demographics needs are understood and put at the heart of the product offer developed
• Support the Buyer working with Design to interpret and adapt to market trends and direction
• Work with the Buyer to analyse historical sales in line with trends and design direction to manage product mix parameters
• Promote and support the collaboration with Sourcing Offices globally to help develop appropriate supply routes.
• To work with the Buyer to manage the departmental critical path.
• Manage BAAs to ensure efficient product & sample management across the buying floor.
• To actively participate in coordinating and presenting the range for sign-off and effectively managing systemic elements of the buying process. To work with Buyer in setting and delivering the strategy for the department

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Footwear experience is required with an exceptional product eye
• Relevant buying experience working to established AB with a major retailer
• Experience buying your own area - leading on costings, product development and global sourcing
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Highly organised and self-motivated, positive attitude
• Proactive in agreeing to take on Buyer responsibilities. Role model for BAAs and strong interpersonal skills, capable of managing vertically and laterally

Everyone’s welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together. If you feel you\'d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.