Senior Assistant Buyer

Oliver Bonas; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employee discount up to 50% off all products

Free access to onsite gym

Flexible holiday – 30 days

Annual discretionary profit-related bonus

Cycle to work scheme

Quarterly free lunch

Job summary

A vibrant lifestyle retailer in the UK is seeking a Senior Assistant Buyer to join their team on a maternity cover contract. The ideal candidate will develop product ranges, negotiate with suppliers, and analyze sales reports to drive the Buying team strategy. This position offers a hybrid working model and promotes values of collaboration and inclusivity. Candidates should possess strong buying experience and excellent communication skills. The company provides substantial perks, including generous holidays and a profit-related bonus.

Qualifications

• Experience of buying for your product area.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical and reporting abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop product ranges in line with department strategy.
• Negotiate cost prices and delivery terms with suppliers.
• Compile and analyse weekly sales reports.

Skills

Buying experience

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical abilities

Team management

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a Senior Assistant Buyer to join Team OB in our Support Office on a maternity cover contract.

As a Senior Assistant Buyer at OB, you will utilise sound commercial awareness and passion for your product areas and, in turn drive sales to deliver the Buying team strategy.

As an experienced product developer and Assistant Buyer, you will be as comfortable working with figures as you are with product and will be well established at buying on your own categories in collaboration with the Senior Buyer.

Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week, and are open to having conversations about working flexibly.

A bit about us …

At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.

Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.

Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.

More about the role

More about the role …

An OB Senior Assistant Buyer will:

• Research and work with the Design team to develop product ranges in line with the department strategy and overall company strategy, taking time to understand and fully immersing yourself in the product brand brief
• Assist your line manager with research and present new trend-led developments
• Negotiate cost prices, delivery terms, packaging, and level of business with suppliers
• Oversee the BAA to ensure accurate order recording and timely processing
• Take responsibility for the critical path ensuring timely product delivery
• Approve all lab dips, bulk fabrics, trims, prints and positioning
• Work on range boards and assist with pricing architecture development
• Assist with range planning aligned with department budgets and strategy
• Manage development samples and departmental administration
• Coordinate with Merchandising team on size ratios
• Organize and attend various meetings with stakeholders
• Compile and analyse weekly sales reports and participate in trade meetings analysing performance data
• Analyse competitor activity and market trends
• Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
• Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Optima Health – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
• Flexible holiday – 30 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
• Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
• Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan
• Free access to our onsite gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Refer a Friend incentive
• Quarterly free lunch
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
• Education and support through 360L eLearning platform

What we look for:

• Experience of buying for your product area
• A love of the OB brand and product
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent analytical and reporting abilities
• Experience in team management and mentoring
• Strong attention to detail
• Adaptable and able to prioritise effectively
• Deep understanding of the OB customer
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Act with professionalism
• Be a role model for more junior members of the team

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB

At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.

It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.

Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.

To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity