Urban Outfitters - Senior Menswear Buyer, Own Buy

Urban Outfitters, Inc.; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Menswear Buyer to curate and manage a dynamic menswear assortment. This role is pivotal in aligning product offerings with customer needs and market trends, driving sales growth through innovative and on-trend selections. You will collaborate closely with design and planning teams while leveraging your analytical skills to make informed decisions. If you are passionate about menswear and have a keen eye for trends, this opportunity offers a platform to shape the future of an iconic brand. Join a vibrant community dedicated to creativity and inclusivity, where your contributions will be valued and impactful.

Benefits

Flexible start and finish times

Bring your dog to work

Employee Assistance Program

Free gym

Private medical insurance

Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands

One paid day to volunteer

Cycle to work scheme

Season ticket loan

Structured support and ongoing learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in buying and product development, ideally within menswear.
• Strong communication and leadership skills to manage a team.

Responsibilities

• Curate and manage the menswear assortment to align with brand vision.
• Collaborate across functions to ensure delivery of concept to customer.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Negotiation

Leadership

Trend Analysis

Vendor Management

Communication

Education

Experience in Buying and Product Development

Tools

Open to Buy (OTB) Management

Sales Analysis Tools

Job description

About Us

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them.

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values:

Progressive — we move with the mood
Creative — we champion limitless minds
Inclusive — we open our platforms to all communities
Responsible — we work to reduce our impact on the environment
Compassionate — we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5

Sound like you? Why not join us?

Role Summary

The Senior Menswear Buyer at Urban Outfitters is responsible for curating and managing the menswear assortment to align with the brand’s vision and customer needs. Working closely with design, planning, and the buying team, this role involves product selection, vendor negotiations, and inventory management. The Senior Menswear Buyer will leverage market trends, sales data, and customer insights to make informed buying decisions while ensuring profitability.

This role requires strong knowledge of the menswear market and excellent analytical skills. The Senior Menswear Buyer will play a key role in shaping the menswear category and driving sales growth through a cohesive and on-trend product offering.

What You'll Be Doing

1. Demonstrate a fresh perspective to deliver a market leading menswear offer both online and across retail territories.
2. Create balanced ranges both emerging and relevant to the urban customer focusing on quality, value, and key volume.
3. Collaborate across functions to ensure complete delivery of concept to customer.
4. Work closely with global partners to leverage all opportunities.
5. Strong ability to trade and deliver in-season, as well as longer lead strategic initiatives.
6. Maintain excellent supplier relationships, identify gaps in sourcing and develop new relationships to support.
7. Drive individual, departmental, and total business goals through seasonal initiatives.
8. Present strategy, ideas and concepts to senior management.
9. Provide leadership to employees and to peers and foster an open environment of continual training and development.
10. Work together with Planners/Merchandisers to develop effective line plans.
11. Manage the Open to Buy (OTB) plan, knowing when to change the OTB based on business needs.
12. Analyse the business and react with timely reorders and cancellations.
13. Maximise margin opportunities and reduce markdown.
14. Understand seasonality and manage critical path accordingly.
15. Liaise with PR, Marketing, Web, Visual Merchandising and Retail Operations teams to ensure that sales are maximized, and the department reaches its full potential.
16. Lead and deliver departmental sustainability goals.
17. Represent the brand with integrity and authority, being a true brand ambassador for the business.

What You'll Need

1. Proven experience in buying and product development, ideally within menswear own-buy, with a strong understanding of the UK and European markets.
2. Ability to analyse trends, customer behaviour, and competitor activity to curate an innovative and relevant product assortment.
3. Experience in managing OTB and sales analysis to drive profitability while maintaining brand identity.
4. Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage a team, collaborate across departments, and present strategies to senior stakeholders.
5. Passion for trend-led product development, working with vendors to create fresh, unique, and first-to-market styles that resonate with the Urban Outfitters customer.
6. Commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring responsible sourcing and a progressive product mix.
7. Skilled in negotiation and vendor management, sourcing new partners, and securing the best quality, pricing, and exclusivity.
8. Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced, reactive environment, responding quickly to market shifts and traveling internationally as needed.

The Perks

Work-life balance: Flexible start and finish times, bring your dog to work.
Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Program, free gym, private medical insurance.
Employee Discount: Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands.
Community: One paid day to volunteer or fundraise for a charity.
Travel: Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan.
Continued Development: Structured support and ongoing learning opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.