Junior Buyer - Womenswear

BODEN; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Junior Buyer to manage a product category and drive strategy. This role emphasizes commercial awareness and the ability to develop a product range that resonates with customers. You'll collaborate closely with design and merchandising teams to ensure quality and margin targets are met. The ideal candidate will have a background in Womenswear, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for buying. Join a dynamic team that values creativity and collaboration, and help shape an exciting product offering that delights customers.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing seasonal strategies and product frameworks.
• Strong understanding of the product/market in Womenswear.

Responsibilities

• Manage category and assist in developing product range to meet margin targets.
• Motivate and develop team while ensuring brand values are upheld.

Skills

Commercial Awareness

Negotiation Skills

Team Management

Excel Proficiency

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Time Management

Communication Skills

Education

Experience in Womenswear Clothing

Established Senior Assistant Level

Tools

PLM/S5

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 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 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 seasonally 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.
• Recognise opportunities and risk that form part of the Supplier Strategy.

Negotiation

• Negotiate and grow your skills to meet each seasons 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 in-stock is met.
• Work with Design and Technical teams to ensure Supplier can achieve lead time.
• Ensure garments are always fitted on schedule.

Team Management

• Get the best out of your team by motivating and developing, keeping brand values at the forefront.
• Carry out regular 121's and performance reviews setting out clear, measurable targets and giving regular feedback.
• Delegate and manage the workload of your team appropriately to ensure accurate and quick response.
• Have strong relationships with the supply base and internal teams to ensure smooth running of the department.

Communication

• Clearly communicate to get quick decisions to avoid delays: able to recognise when you can make the decision and what needs to be escalated.

Systems

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

What We Are Looking For

• Established Senior Assistant level at a minimum, with experience working in Womenswear 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 is critical. 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 and highly numerate and analytical.
• Be organised, adaptable and strategic.
• Clear communication and problem-solving skills.
• Great time management.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work independently.