Buying Admin Assistant - Karen Millen

Karen Millen; Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Debenhams Group, home to Karen Millen, is seeking a Buying Admin Assistant to support the buying team with sample management and supplier communication. You will help manage critical paths, ensure timely sample delivery, and coordinate with the studio and suppliers to meet deadlines.

You will also contribute to maintaining accurate product descriptions, assist in cost negotiations, and support in Sage-based PO management within a fast-paced premium fashion environment.

Qualifications

• Excellent commercial awareness and ability to recognise trends.
• Ability to prioritise multiple deadlines and manage time effectively.
• Great communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Natural planner with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to change.

Responsibilities

• Holds weekly Optimum Positioning Opportunities (OPO) meetings with the team.
• Updates Buyer with supplier and critical path updates.
• Carries out weekly competitor price/shape messages analysis and suggests actions.
• Chases suppliers to ensure fit and production samples meet deadlines.
• Manages samples for the studio with correct codes and on-time delivery.
• Supports Sage amendments and PO updates; checks supplier information in the PO.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Time management

Communication

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Tools

Sage

Job description

DESCRIPTION

Where Timeless Luxury Meets Modern Elegance Born from a bold vision in 1981, Karen Millen began with just £100 and a passion for perfecting the classic white shirt. That same commitment to impeccable style, quality, and craftsmanship lives on today.

Where Timeless Luxury Meets Modern Elegance Born from a bold vision in 1981, Karen Millen began with just £100 and a passion for perfecting the classic white shirt. That same commitment to impeccable style, quality, and craftsmanship lives on today. Karen Millen is now a renowned premium womenswear brand, celebrated for flattering fits, meticulous design, and a dedication to detail that sets us apart. From elevated everyday essentials to timeless investment pieces, every piece is thoughtfully created for the modern woman, combining sophisticated design with enduring quality. Join us in shaping the future of fashion with a brand built on heritage, innovation, and exceptional design.

As a Buying Admin Assistant you'll be responsible for supporting the buying team by ensuring sample management is kept on top of and organised effectively. You'll communicate regularly with suppliers to ensure orders are fulfilled in a timely manner, including any amendments that are necessary. You will manage the critical path set out by your department with the support of your Assistant Buyer / Buyer.

TRADE

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Holds weekly Optimum Positioning Opportunities (OPO) meetings alongside Assistant Buyer, Assistant Merchandiser and MAA.
• Updates Buyer with supplier and critical path updates.
• Carries out weekly comp shops to highlight competitors pricing, shape or colour messages and suggests actions.
• Understands the departments' best and worst sellers. Has a general understanding of the wider brand's performance.

ORDER MAINTENANCE

• Supports the AB with chasing suppliers and making sure all fit & production samples come in on time, ensuring delivery dates are met.
• Manages samples for the studio by making sure all production samples are approved and sent on the same day.
• Attends and contributes in fit sessions. All samples must be ready and in the correct order with correct codes.
• Checks own categories on site daily to ensure no spelling mistakes and accurate descriptions.
• Supports team to organise samples for weekly sign off and rack ups.

SAMPLE MANAGEMENT

• Check production samples and approves them ready to be sent to the studio.
• Clears and organises the sample room on a regular basis to keep on top of samples and general up keep of the office.
• Organises and distributes post where necessary.

SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT

• Regularly calls suppliers to discuss delivery dates and to chase samples to ensure that fit and production samples are in and approved to meet the delivery date on the critical path.
• Attends supplier meetings with Buyer / AB to understand how to negotiate price and delivery dates.
• Understands supplier delivery terms such as FOB (Freight On Board)

SAGE

• Has a good understanding of Sage and able to make relevant amendments using Sage.
• Able to amend Purchase Orders (PO) and find supplier information in the PO.

REPORTS

• Contributes towards trade meetings with best and worst seller performance information.
• Has a basic understanding of the range monitor and where to find territory sales.
• Monitors unpublished stock report.
• Sends the Daily Sales Report to buyers each day.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Assists in product development and chases samples using the Development tracker.

FITS

• Has a basic knowledge of fitting & technical terminology, and how to measure garments.
• Shares ownership for sending fit comments to relevant teams.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Excellent commercial awareness. Able to recognise future trends.
• Ability to prioritise multiple deadlines and manage time effectively.
• Great communication skills.
• Natural planner and highly organised.
• Can think about the bigger picture, as well as the small details.
• Thrives in a fast paced environment and able to adapt to situations

WORKING WITH US

At Debenhams Group, we are a diverse portfolio of five core brands (boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen, and Debenhams) alongside a dynamic marketplace model and a growing financial services division, it keeps us pretty busy! We don’t stand still - we lead, evolve, and redefine online fashion. With bold ambitions and big energy, we’re on a mission to be the best, delivering the strongest propositions to our customers in the most engaging, innovative, and efficient ways possible. We thrive on change, innovation, and pace. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every day is a chance to push boundaries. If you’re someone who embraces the unknown, thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment, and is ready to shape the future of retail, you’ll love it here. We want visionaries, disruptors, and doers, people who bring fresh thinking, relentless energy, and the drive to make an impact.

Be bold. Be creative. Be a community.

WHY JOIN US

2025 is a year for making bold moves, delivering real results, and driving forward with unstoppable momentum. If that excites you, then you belong at Debenhams Group.

Let’s lead the change together.