Assistant Buyer – London

Ralph Lauren; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Lauren in London is seeking an Assistant Buyer to provide essential operational and administrative support to the Special Capsules Buying team, helping deliver departmental financial plans and seasonal strategies from product inception through to market launch.

The role supports EMEA execution across sports partnerships, brand-driven programmes, regional initiatives and Travel Retail, ensuring accurate product information and effective coordination with global strategy and local market

Qualifications

• Experience in retail, buying, merchandising or planning is beneficial.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Fluency in English and clear written/verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day administrative and operational support to ensure the smooth running of the department.
• Assist with assortment plans, pricing and market availability for partnership-related launches.
• Monitor weekly performance data and assist in preparing reports and presentations for milestones.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Attention to detail

Organised

Communication skills

English fluency

Tools

GFE

PriceSmart

SAP

Job description

Assistant Buyer – London, United Kingdom

Position Overview

Ref # W183597

State/Region London

Department Merchandising & Planning

Location United Kingdom

City London

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren’s reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Assistant Buyer provides essential operational and administrative support to the Special Capsules Buying team, helping to deliver departmental financial plans and seasonal strategies from product inception through to market launch. The role supports EMEA execution across sports partnerships, brand-driven programmes, regional initiatives and Travel Retail, ensuring accurate product information, effective coordination and alignment with global strategy and local market needs. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in these areas and a desire to develop their understanding of the end-to-end buying process at Ralph Lauren.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day-to-day administrative and operational support to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the department.
• Support EMEA execution of global sports partnerships, including Wimbledon, the Olympics, US Open, MLB and Golf initiatives such as Ryder Cup, St Andrews and Evian.
• Assist with distribution lists, assortment plans, pricing and market availability for partnership-related and brand-driven product launches.
• Support system readiness, including EU pricing, PLIR setup and accurate product information across GFE, PriceSmart, SAP and related tools.
• Coordinate product orders for Marketing initiatives, including officials’ uniforms, player gifting, suit-guest programmes and CYO blanks for pop-up activations.
• Track orders, deliveries, samples and inventory flow, escalating risks or delays to the Buyer and relevant cross-functional partners.
• Support Brand, Marketing, Wholesale, Retail, E-commerce, Customer Service, Fulfilment, Creative, Buying and Planning teams to enable aligned and timely execution.
• Assist with regional activations and projects by maintaining product information, tracking actions and supporting special-product assortments.
• Prepare documents, reports, product information and presentation materials for key milestones, including Hindsight, Buy Review, Sign-Off, Market Opening and launch meetings.
• Monitor weekly business performance, including sell-in, sell-out, gross margin and key KPIs, with guidance from the Buyer.
• Develop the ability to identify top-line trends, risks and opportunities from business reports and translate findings into clear actions that can inform future buys.
• Research the retail and competitive landscape, including pricing, product, trends and key market messages, and summarise relevant findings for the wider team.
• Support assortment and product presentations, helping to communicate strategy, rationale and commercial expectations clearly.
• Manage emails, calendars, meeting actions and deadlines efficiently.
• Develop confidence using key tools and systems, troubleshoot issues where appropriate and identify opportunities to improve ways of working.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships across the Buying team and wider cross-functional network.
• Take ownership of assigned tasks, manage priorities and communicate progress clearly.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Good understanding of Ralph Lauren and its position within the market.
• Commercial awareness, with an interest in developing analytical and retail-mathematics skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Organised and able to prioritise tasks effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, resourceful and comfortable working independently while seeking guidance when needed.
• Logical approach to analysis and problem-solving.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to share updates and contribute to product presentations.
• Collaborative approach and ability to build productive working relationships across diverse teams and functions.
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to learn new systems and technical applications quickly; familiarity with GFE, PriceSmart or SAP is beneficial but not essential.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to maintain a positive approach.
• Global mindset and cultural awareness; international exposure through work or study is beneficial.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage.
• Commitment to inclusive ways of working, teamwork and direct, transparent communication.
• Previous experience in retail, buying, merchandising, planning or a related environment is beneficial but not essential.