Buyer II - Branded Beauty

Woolworths; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Cape Town is seeking a strategic Buyer for their fragrance portfolio. You will lead brand partnerships, manage pricing strategies, and ensure a trend-relevant assortment. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of buying experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. This permanent contract position offers an opportunity to shape a dynamic category within the beauty space.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ buying experience, preferably in Branded Beauty.
• Strong strategic planning and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to interpret data into action.
• Deep customer orientation and competitive insight.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic curation and performance of a fragrance portfolio.
• Integrate customer insights to shape brand-led assortment strategy.
• Negotiate brand support and trading terms to optimise margin.
• Monitor performance and leverage insights to maximise sales.
• Coach and develop Buying Assistants and Buyer I.

Skills

Strategic planning

Brand management

Negotiation skills

Commercial acumen

Customer orientation

Trend awareness

Stakeholder engagement

Team collaboration

Results-driven

Job description

Job category: Other: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Permanent

EE position: No

Introduction

To lead the strategic curation and performance of a Branded portfolio of brands within the fragrance category by delivering a customer-led, trend-relevant and commercially sound assortment. This role is responsible for driving brand partnerships, margin growth and innovation to strengthen Woolworths’ position as a trusted authority in the beauty space.We’re looking for a forward-thinking and strategic Buyer to shape and grow one of the most dynamic categories in our business.

Category Strategy & Planning

• Integrate customer segmentation and trend insights to shape a brand-led assortment strategy.
• Contribute to the development of departmental operating plans that align with Group KPIs and customer needs.
• Lead post- and in-season analysis to inform trade and planning decisions.

Range Development & Assortment Curation

• Build a balanced, forward-thinking range with appropriate price tiering and innovation.
• Ensure strong brand positioning, exclusivity, and customer relevance.

Brand & Supplier Management

• Negotiate brand support, service levels, and trading terms that optimise margin and commercial returns.
• Manage onboarding and exit of brands within agreed timelines and strategic intent.

Performance & Trade

• Monitor weekly and monthly performance to identify trade opportunities and course-correct where needed.
• Leverage insights to maximise sales, profit, and market share.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with Planning, Marketing, Stores, and Online to deliver a seamless, omnichannel beauty experience.
• Conduct regular store visits to assess product execution and customer interaction.

People Development

• Coach and develop Buying Assistants and Buyer I.
• Inspire the team to achieve and deliver the departmental operational plan and meet/exceed KPI’s.

· 3–5 years’ buying experience (Branded Beauty preferred).

· Strong strategic planning, brand management and negotiation skills.

· Proven commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data into action.

· Deep customer orientation, trend awareness and competitive insight.

· Strong stakeholder engagement and team collaboration skills.

· Entrepreneurial mindset, results-driven and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.