Junior Buyer - Childrenswear

BODEN; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in fashion is seeking a Junior Buyer to manage a category, develop product ranges, and drive sales. The role requires strong commercial awareness, team management skills, and a passion for children's clothing. You will work closely with design and supply teams to ensure product quality and margin targets are met while fostering a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme

Generous Boden clothing allowance

30% discount on all current clothing ranges

25 days Holiday annually, plus Bank Holidays

Online Portal with discounts on retail & entertainment

Virtual GP Service for you and your household

Free onsite parking and subsidised café

Qualifications

• Established Senior Assistant level in Childrenswear Clothing.
• Proficient in Excel, highly numerate and analytical.
• Customer-focused with exceptional taste.

Responsibilities

• Manage category and develop range in line with concept.
• Drive product development with Design and suppliers.
• Motivate and develop team while maintaining brand values.

Skills

Commercial Awareness

Problem Solving

Communication

Time Management

Analytical Skills

Education

Experience in Childrenswear Clothing

Tools

Excel

Job description

Stylish, grounded, uplifting - these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty, and friendship between our teams, we wouldn't be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that's ethical, inclusive - and importantly - good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.

Overview

The Junior Buyer is responsible for managing their own category, reporting into the Buying Lead for their department. The role includes managing an Assistant, developing the range in line with concept, meeting margin targets, and managing the supply base. You will contribute to and help drive a department strategy to deliver amazing product to our customer.

Location: 4-5 days per week based at our North Acton Office.

What We Are Looking For

• Established Senior Assistant level at a minimum, with experience working in Childrenswear Clothing and a strong understanding of the product/market is critical.
• Experience in developing and delivering seasonal strategies and product framework across all attributes with sales, buys, and option mixes to deliver on top-line sales.
• Customer-focused and commercially aware with exceptional taste. Be both commercial and creative with a keen eye for detail.
• Partnered with Digital and Creative teams to support driving the best customer product experience.
• Management of a Buying Admin Assistant.
• Passionate about a career in Buying.
• Proficient in Excel, highly numerate and analytical.
• Organised, adaptable, and strategic.
• Clear communication and problem-solving skills.
• Great time management.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work independently.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme.
• Generous Boden clothing allowance!
• 30% discount on all current clothing ranges.
• 25 days Holiday annually, plus Bank Holidays.
• Online Portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment.
• Virtual GP Service for you and your household!
• Free onsite parking and subsidised café.

We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open, and tolerant. A best-of-British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities, and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job whoever they are, helping them thrive in it, and celebrating their individuality.

We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

What You Will Do

Commercial Awareness

• Understand our Brand and our customer in all our trading regions. Be customer-focused in the way you work and in the decisions you make. Be aware of economic and social trends that impact our business.

Strategy

• Deliver a seasonal framework with sales, buys, and options mixes with Merchandising and Design partners to deliver a relevant product range that delivers on topline sales with the customer at the forefront.

Product Development

• Drive the development of our amazing product working closely with Design, Garment Technology, and suppliers while ensuring intake margin is delivered.

Trade

• Quick to respond to current trade and constantly evaluating upcoming ranges and looking for opportunities to trade.
• Build in ability to trade with your supply base and establish trigger dates for trade.
• Chase and mitigate risk where required.
• Work with the fabric team to book and monitor fabric/yarn commitment to trade effectively through the season.
• Work closely with the Designers, Techs, and Product Merchandisers from the start of the development stage to ensure the designs align with the Product Framework and meet quality and margin targets.
• Review development samples with the team to ensure suppliers have followed instructions, flag how they may differ with suppliers, and what can be done to improve in the future.

Supply Base

• Continually assess supply base, building strong relationships to deliver best price, quality, reliability, and repeat lead times.
• Recognize opportunities and risks that form part of the Supplier Strategy.

Negotiation

• Negotiate and grow your skills to meet each season's target margin.
• Set targets and understand where you are going to make the biggest margin impact.

Critical Path

• Ensure the department Critical Path is on time and delays are escalated to management with solutions.
• Establish workable FOB dates to ensure stock availability.
• Work with Design and Technical teams to ensure suppliers can achieve lead times.
• Ensure garments are always fitted on schedule.

Team Management

• Motivate and develop your team, keeping brand values at the forefront.
• Conduct regular 121s and performance reviews with clear, measurable targets and regular feedback.
• Delegate and manage the workload of your team appropriately to ensure accurate and quick responses.
• Maintain strong relationships with the supply base and internal teams to ensure smooth department operations.

Communication

• Communicate clearly to facilitate quick decisions and recognize when to escalate issues.

Systems

• Ensure PLM/S5 systems are up-to-date and accurate at all times.