Buyer Or Senior Buyer

Buyer - Jackets & Outerwear (female)

Our client:
Our client is one of Australia's leading female fashion companies, boasting international scope and over 500 locations, they are a go-to retailer for everyday and occasional pieces.

The role:
As the buyer (or senior buyer, they are open to both levels) you will be working with the buying manager, contribute to the brand strategy and develop ways to build the specified department and its image, strengthening market position and increasing sales & profit.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND SOURCING
Lead and direct design to ensure fabrics, prints and style details are consistent with brand vision.
Work with Design & QA to ensure best fit, consistency of fit and best possible quality of fabric, trim, make and finish.
Make commercial decisions throughout the development process of a product with respect to delivering the most commercial style in the most profitable way, adhering to brand standards, highlighting any concerns to the buying manager.
Be aware of approval timelines on lap dips, strike offs, trim and bulk fabric confirmation, ensuring all components are within tolerance.
Ensure all lab dips are approved in line with desired look highlighting any concerns with the buying manager.
Ensure all strike off’s are approved in line with the desired look highlighting any concerns with the buying manager.
Ensure all bulk approvals of cloth and trim are approved in line with desired look highlighting any concerns with the buying manager.
Research of fabrics, trims and yarns, ensuring these are developed and sourced in a timely manner for range building.
Ensure all key deadlines are met with regards to critical path management.

TREND KNOWLEDGE & COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT
Sound knowledge of local and overseas market trends through various mediums including magazines and online research.
Demonstrate broad knowledge and awareness of competitors and external trends, identifying missed opportunities and trends to increase sales and profit.

RANGE BUILDING
Construct a balanced range which offers the right mix of print, plain, and colour and end use for the business.
Ensure a clear and balanced range that offers the right mix of category.
Work with design to ensure range reflects the right level of newness/fashion/trend & that volume lines are maximised and moved on at the right time.
Ensure category delivers innovation, speed to market and calculated risks in new trends.
Coordinate all areas of the buying process, together with Planner to ensure that stock is ordered and delivered on time.
Analyse & have a thorough understanding of category history applying this to your range build.
Ensure range reflects climate needs of all states.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Ensure all department financial parameters and targets are achieved.
Business management - Respond to sales and market data to make commercial decisions to maximise sale opportunities and minimise potential risks.
Trade the department, in collaboration with the planner, by optimising profit, maximising department potential through repeats, and minimising slow performance through promotion or mark-downs.
Generate ideas to improve sales and profit performance.
Manage air vs sea mix of the business ensuring profit is preserved where possible.
Management of open to buy to ensure stock levels meet agreed budgets.
Margin management through price negotiation directly with supplier.
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of seasons lessons and formulate strategy in line with business objectives.
Drive product post season SWOT and forward strategy in liaison with planner.
Demonstrate an thorough understanding of the financial levers of the department.

CRITICAL PATH MANAGEMENT
Be aware of production progress against department critical path ensuring key dates are met by the team.
In consultation with the assistant buyer negotiate and confirm individual product lead time’s with suppliers prior to order signing.
Be aware of fabric status by style to ensure imported and China fabrics are on time to ensure minimal business risk for the business.
Be aware of status of “featured product” to ensure on time delivery into warehouse highlighting any concerns to your manager/Planning Manager well in advance.
Be aware of fabric and trim stock holdings as supplied by Assistant Buyer.
Ensure garments are fitted and sealed in line with critical path.
Be aware of potential delays highlighting any risks to the business to the planner & buying manager.
Be aware of current deliveries into the DC.

SUPPLIER LIAISON
Liaise and negotiate all purchase order details with suppliers ensuring best result for the business.

FIT SESSIONS
Attend all fit sessions and highlight any commercial concerns buying manager.
Check with the technologist that the production sample is appropriate – fit and check against sealer.

TEAM MANAGEMENT
Builds a strong team with a focus on succession planning.
Offers advice and helps find solutions to the wide range of issues encountered by the team.
Provide clear vision for the future, communication & coaching to the team to maximise their performance and development.
Provide regular ongoing feedback to the assistant buyer.
Motivates team – gives recognition and praise.
Deals with issues promptly and appropriately.
Build effective relationships with team, suppliers and key stakeholders across the business.

Apply now:
If this role is suited to you and your past experience, please submit your resume .