Design and Buying Executive

The Royal Air Force Museum; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Air Force Museum in London is recruiting an experienced Design and Buying Executive on a full-time 6 month contract to support the Retail & Admissions team.

You will manage buying from concept to delivery, create product packaging and labels, develop digital assets for the online shop, and work with suppliers to keep the product range fresh and commercially strong.

Qualifications

• Experience in buying, design and product development.
• Proficient in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva.
• Experience with e-commerce and retail operations.

Responsibilities

• Support the buying and product development process across retail ranges.
• Create product packaging, labels and POS materials using design software.
• Develop and edit product imagery for online shop using AI tools.
• Manage and upload product content to the online shop and liaise with suppliers.
• Assist with stock management, merchandising and retail analysis.
• Raise purchase orders and monitor sales and stock performance.

Skills

Retail buying

Design

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

AI tools

Analytical skills

Communication

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Job description

We are looking to recruit an experienced Design and Buying Executive to join our team based at our London site. You will join us on a full-time, 6 month contract, and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of £31,114 per annum.

The Royal Air Force Museum is as a national museum, a Government non-departmental public body (NDPB) and a registered charity.

We have two public sites in the Midlands and London and a stored collection at Stafford. Our purpose is to share the RAF story - past, present and future - using the stories of its people and our collections to engage, inform and inspire.

Our vision is to inspire everyone with the RAF story - the people who shape it and its place in our lives.

Our museum commitments are the golden thread that run through everything that we do. These are:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Sustainability

What We Are Looking For In Our Design and Buying Executive

The Royal Air Force Museum is looking for a passionate, creative and organised Buying and Design Executive to join our Retail & Admissions team on a maternity cover contract.

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring retail professional to develop their skills across buying, product development, design, merchandising and e-commerce within one of the UK’s leading museums. Working closely with the Head of Retail and Admissions, you will play a key role in supporting the Museum’s retail operation, helping to develop and deliver a commercially successful and engaging product range that reflects the RAF Museum’s brand and visitor experience.

The successful candidate will combine a strong eye for design with excellent organisational and analytical skills. You will support the buying process from product concept through to delivery, create product packaging and labels, develop digital assets for our online shop, and work closely with suppliers and Museum retail teams to ensure our product offer remains fresh, relevant and commercially effective.

Key responsibilities Of Our Design and Buying Executive

• Support the buying and product development process across the Museum’s retail ranges.
• Create product packaging, labels and point-of-sale materials using design software.
• Develop, edit and enhance product imagery using design tools and AI-powered software for use across e-commerce and marketing channels.
• Manage and upload product content, images and information to the Museum’s online shop.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding product development, artwork, orders and deliveries.
• Work closely with Museum shop teams to support stock management and product performance.
• Assist with merchandising, stock control and retail analysis.
• Raise and process purchase orders for retail products, shop equipment and consumables.
• Monitor sales and stock performance, helping to identify opportunities to increase sales and improve availability.
• Provide administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the retail function.

About You

• Passionate about retail, product development and customer experience.
• Creative, with strong visual design skills and attention to detail.
• Experienced in using design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva or similar platforms.
• Comfortable using AI tools and image creation software to develop digital content.
• Highly organised and capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Numerically confident, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive self-starter with a positive, flexible and ‘can-do’ attitude.
• An excellent communicator, able to build effective relationships with suppliers and colleagues.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands‑on experience across buying, design, e-commerce and retail operations within a unique cultural organisation. You’ll work with a varied and distinctive product range, contribute to exciting new product launches, and help shape the retail experience enjoyed by visitors and customers both in our museums and online.

Reporting to the Head of Retail and Admissions, this position is ideal for an ambitious retail professional looking to broaden their commercial and creative experience and take the next step in their career.

The role will be based at our London site.

The closing date for applications is: 12 November 2026

Interviews will take place on: 23 November 2026

Join us in delivering our purpose and achieving our vision, ensuring that the Royal Air Force's story continues to enrich and inspire current and future generations.