Buying Manager @Net-A-Porter (Fixed Term Contract 6-9 Months)

YNAP GROUP; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading luxury fashion retailer in London is seeking an experienced Buying Manager to develop seasonal strategies and lead a team of 13. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in multi-branded buying within the women's luxury fashion space. Strong analytical, leadership and communication skills are essential. This role offers a hybrid workplace model and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in multi-branded buying within women's luxury fashion.
• Ability to discuss luxury brands and trends.
• Proven track record of sales growth in a commercial environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead seasonal Buying strategies.
• Inspire the Buy team to achieve margin targets.
• Direct global pricing and product strategy.
• Maintain vendor relationships and drive team culture.

Skills

Experience as Buying Manager

Strong numeracy skills

Analytical skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

NET-A-PORTER delivers incredible fashion for incredible women. As the world's leading luxury retailer with the most authoritative product edit globally, the site offers the ultimate curation of fashion from the most coveted designer brands, the most exceptional assortment of fine watches and precious jewelry, and more than 200 specialist beauty brands. Its discerning edit places special emphasis on highlighting the creativity and promise of the next generation of fashion talent via the Vanguard, a program for emerging brands. Consideration for environmental and social impact increasingly shapes the product offering, and the launch of the NET SUSTAIN platform, was created to showcase brands that place sustainability at the core of their product. Uniting content and commerce to deliver an immersive and inspiring customer experience, NET-A-PORTER speaks to a global community and features a dedicated editorial vertical with PORTER, which is renowned for its award-winning content featuring a diverse range of incredible women.

NET-A-PORTER champions unparalleled customer service offering express worldwide shipping to more than 170 countries including same or next-day delivery to the UK, US, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Australia and Singapore, a seamless shopping experience across all devices, luxurious packaging, easy returns and a multi-lingual customer care and personal shopping team that is available 24/7, 365 days a year. A pioneer of personal shopping and client relations services for the digital era in 2000, NET-A-PORTER continues to innovate and strengthen its offering, with virtual styling, invitation only digital exclusives, and a world class suite of specialized offers for EIPs, (Extremely Important People), the brand's most loyal and valuable customers. NET-A-PORTER is part of NET-A-PORTER GROUP.

Role

NET-A-PORTER are now seeking a talented Buying Manager to join the team. Some of the essentials for you to know are:

Location: Our Westfield office in London

Reporting into: Chief Buying & Merchandising Officer

Team Size Approx: 13

Direct reports: 4

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead seasonal Buying strategies in conjunction with category Buyers and key stakeholders
• Inspire and motivate the Buy team to be strategic when planning to achieve margin targets and objectives set
• Ensure the Open-to-Buys (OTB) for respective areas are met to achieve business KPI's sales, margin, full price sell thru and total sell thru targets
• Direct global pricing and product strategy across all territories
• Deputise for the Buying Director and to ensure full participation in the trading meetings and WSSI reforecasts
• Trend forecast and range plan with NET-A-PORTER's Fashion Director
• Maintain and develop new and existing vendor relationships
• Ensure all Buying categories build a cohesive, commercial and innovative range with global reach
• Work cross functionally with all key stakeholders to ensure product and ranges are maximised and pushed through all sales channels creatively
• Consistently have the team negotiate the most competitive payment terms and discounts for our Buy
• Cover Market and lead the Buy process - with feedback to Buying and Merchandising Directors and the President of In-season
• Take ownership of order submission and final approval of seasonal buy
• Champion and lead a culture of collaboration and team spirit, encouraging constructive challenge.
• Grow, develop and retain a world class team, to ensure the efficient and effective deployment of people and resources within budget
• Consistently drive the team to negotiate the most competitive payment terms and discounts for our Buy.
• Manage annual travel budget for the teams and work with the Buying Director on mapping out best practice for all travel for the Buying team
• Set and review targets and objectives with team members on a regularly basis aligned to HR policies and procedures
• Update team of operating plans, strategic business developments and changes and ensure they function effectively to achieve NET-A-PORTER's business goals

The kind of person we are looking for

• Extensive proven experience as a Buying Manager or Senior Buyer in multi-branded buying within the women's luxury fashion retail space ideally across Ready-to-Wear categories
• Ability to talk knowledgably about brands, trends and the luxury customer
• Entrepreneurial spirit with the creative flair to drive a business forward
• Strong numeracy, analytical and computer skills
• Proven track record of delivering incremental sales growth in a commercial environment
• Ability to demonstrate significant previous experience of leading and working in cross functional teams
• Good judgement and decision-making skills
• Confidence in suggesting calculated risks and ability to create business opportunities and follow through
• Strong leadership and management skills
• A discreet, professional and well-spoken manner, with excellent communication skills, strong rapport building
• Experience leading by example
• Pro-active nature and ability to constantly improve the NET-A-PORTER offering.
• Brand ambassador mind-set and represent the NET-A-PORTER business both internally and externally when in market
• Desire to be the best and provide exceptional customer value and experience

From the moment you join the LuxExperience Group we are committed to making your journey with us inspirational and evolutionary. If you are passionate, committed and thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, then please apply with a CV.

LuxExperience is an equal opportunities employer, we encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We recognize and celebrate the benefits that diversity brings to our workplace, our business and our customers. We welcome and will consider all applications regardless of race and nationality, religion, color, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Experience Level: Mid-Senior level
Workplace Type: Hybrid