Senior Retail Buyer

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 720,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Professional development opportunities

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Retail Buyer to identify trends, source profitable merchandise, and negotiate favorable terms with suppliers for stores across the Nelspruit, Mpumalanga region. This hybrid role blends remote planning with on-site collaboration and market engagement.

The ideal candidate will have proven senior buyer experience, strong negotiation and analytical skills, and a track record of driving category performance while maintaining stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Retail Buyer, preferably senior-level.
• Strong ability to develop and execute buying strategies that grow sales and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical with the ability to interpret data and use retail analytics tools.
• Knowledge of product sourcing, vendor management, and the supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive buying strategies for designated product categories.
• Identify market trends and consumer demands to source profitable merchandise.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers.
• Analyze sales data and inventory to optimize assortment and stock levels.
• Collaborate with marketing and visual merchandising for effective product presentation.
• Manage buying budget to ensure profitability and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor market opportunities and threats through competitive analysis.
• Participate in product development and selection aligned with brand strategy.
• Travel to trade shows and supplier locations as needed.
• Contribute to strategic planning and reporting remotely, with on-site engagement in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytics

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing/Fashion Merchandising

Tools

Retail analytics tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished name in the retail landscape, is seeking an experienced Senior Retail Buyer to join their dynamic team. This pivotal role will involve identifying product trends, sourcing high-quality merchandise, and negotiating favorable terms with suppliers to enhance the product offering across our client's stores. The position combines strategic remote planning and analysis with essential on-site collaboration and market engagement, particularly within the **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga** region. You will be instrumental in shaping the product assortment, driving category performance, and ensuring profitability. The ideal candidate possesses a keen eye for market opportunities, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven track record in retail buying. This hybrid role offers the opportunity to influence product strategy while maintaining critical stakeholder relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive buying strategies for designated product categories.
• Identify emerging market trends and consumer demands to source relevant and profitable merchandise.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating pricing, terms, and delivery schedules.
• Analyze sales data, market performance, and inventory levels to optimize product assortment and stock levels.
• Collaborate with the marketing and visual merchandising teams to ensure effective product presentation and promotion.
• Manage the buying budget, ensuring profitability and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct competitive analysis to identify opportunities and threats in the market.
• Participate in product development and selection processes, ensuring alignment with brand strategy.
• Travel to trade shows, supplier locations, and relevant industry events as needed.
• Contribute to strategic planning and reporting remotely, complementing on-site market analysis in **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga**.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Retail Buyer, preferably in a senior capacity.
• Demonstrable success in developing and executing buying strategies that drive sales and profitability.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation abilities, with proficiency in retail analytics tools.
• In-depth knowledge of product sourcing, vendor management, and supply chain dynamics.
• Ability to identify market trends and translate them into commercially successful product selections.
• Experience working in a hybrid capacity, balancing remote strategic work with on-site engagement.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of the retail environment in **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga** and surrounding areas.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary package, including performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits such as medical aid and retirement fund contributions are provided.
• Professional development opportunities are available to support your continued growth in the buying field.
• This hybrid role offers significant flexibility, allowing for strategic work from home while ensuring vital market presence.
• Join a forward-thinking company and play a key role in shaping the product direction for our client's stores in the **Nelspruit, Mpumalanga** region.