Assistant Buyer WW - Advanced 12 Month FTC

Marks and Spencer; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in London is looking for an Assistant Buyer Advanced for Womenswear. You will analyze sales trends, collaborate on product development, and manage sample management. Ideal candidates should have experience in fashion retail, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for fashion trends. The role offers numerous employee perks, including discounts, pension schemes, and wellbeing support. Join us in transforming the retail industry into a more inspiring era.

Benefits

20% colleague discount

Competitive holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus schemes

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Induction and training programmes

Wellbeing support including 24/7 Virtual GP

Charity volunteer day

Qualifications

• Experience in softs/dresses/tops or casual outerwear is preferred.
• Ability to motivate junior team members.
• Experience in global sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Buyer to analyse historical sales.
• Promote collaboration with global Sourcing Offices.
• Support the Buyer with product Tech Packs.

Skills

Experience working to at least Assistant Buyer level

Good product eye and trend obsession

Strong interpersonal skills

Experience of cost price negotiations

Critical Path Management

Highly organised and self-motivated

Job description

Summary

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.

All the details

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. 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 an Assistant Buyer Advanced on Womenswear your key accountabilities will include

• 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 support the Buyer with the co‑ordination and development of product Tech Packs
• To work with the Buyer to manage the departmental critical path & actively participate in coordinating and presenting the range for sign‑off
• Manage BAAs to ensure efficient product & sample management across the buying floor
• To work with Buyer in setting and delivering the strategy for the department

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Experience working to at least Assistant Buyer level in a fashion retailer. Great product eye and trend obsessed is a must!
• Experience in softs/ dresses/ tops or casual outerwear is preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate junior members of the team
• Experience of cost price negotiations and global sourcing
• Critical Path Management
• Highly organised and self‑motivated,
• 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.