Key Responsibilities:
Strategy Development and Execution
Develop and execute seasonal product strategies in line with the company strategy.
Work closely with the Planning Manager to develop cohesive action plans to execute the brand strategy.
Evaluate strategic progress and pivot where necessary to achieve strategic objectives.
Identify key macro and micro economic trends that will impact on the implementation of the buying strategy and plan accordingly.
Product Development
Own and manage the product development cycle from range conceptualization to design, pre-production sample approvals, and bulk production approvals.
Manage the range architecture and price tiering of seasonal ranges ensuring a credible and balanced assortment is on offer across store grids and online channels.
Ensure relevant global trends are well represented in the range and aligned to customer preferences.
Ensure authentic product execution in line with the brand ethos.
Deliver a clear value proposition in support of the brand positioning.
Sign off product strategy at various review stages in the product development process.
KPI and Trade Management
Display a clear understanding of the business against weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales performance to plan.
Drive key action plans based on current performance to maximize sales, improve sales margin, and minimize markdown.
Drive an in-season trade mentality in your buying team that displays agility and quick decision making to shift the outcome of sales.
Manage key performance indicators including sales, sales margin, clearance, and stock management.
Cross Functional Collaboration and Communication
Maintain a collaborative relationship with the planning, e-commerce, marketing, and store operations teams to ensure cohesive execution of product strategies.
Provide guidance and support to the marketing team on product launches, promotions, and product initiatives.
Supplier Management
Forge strategic partnerships with key suppliers by aligning supply base to the business strategy.
Evaluate and manage supplier performance on a regular basis and identify potential risks within the supplier loading.
Negotiate with suppliers to achieve margin targets and improve lead time efficiency.
Maintain strong relationships with existing vendors and explore opportunities for new partnerships.
Ensure suppliers are compliant with the Group's social and ethical requirements and contribute towards the brand's sustainability strategy.
Team Leadership and Talent Management
Ensure that assigned team is effectively resourced, directed, motivated, and developed to enable team members to reach their full potential.
Drive and develop the performance of the team with a view to optimize delivery and achievement of objectives while effectively managing performance issues or concerns.
Ensure learning and development opportunities are available to the team.
Cultivate a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team to optimize sales and deliver KPIs.
Mentor, coach, and develop the team to support their career development.
Manage various functions within the buying department including buying, design, and quality assurance, ensuring alignment across these functions.
Critical Path and Lead Time Management
Ensure buying critical path aligns to the merchandise cycle to deliver the on-time launch of product.
Evaluate buying process efficiency and evolve process accordingly to support faster and more accurate decision making.
Constantly identify opportunities to reduce lead times.
Project Management
Participate and align business projects to group strategic projects.
Implement and evolve key retail projects such as 3D, sustainability, and quick response.
Market Analysis
Conduct regular store and market visits to understand the competitor landscape and identify new opportunities for growth.
Qualifications and Experience:
A relevant tertiary qualification.
Minimum 3 years working experience at a management level, including people/team management.
Minimum 10 years relevant buying/merchandise experience is essential.
Skills:
Proven track record in building and maintaining strategic supplier relationships.
Proven track record and ability to drive a merchandise strategy by demonstrating innovative and creative thinking.
Ability to persuade and influence both internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to work well under pressure and deliver to aggressive deadlines, including problem solving.
Exceptional analytical ability to effectively evaluate and drive functional KPIs, including sales growth, PIS, CSOH, input- and maintained margins, stock turn, clearance.
Strong written and verbal communication at all levels of the organization.
Proven leadership and people management ability.
Behaviours:
Applies market and business insights in order to drive organizational objectives.
Forms, develops, and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective.
Creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success.
Thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organization.
Develops plans and prioritizes initiatives that align to the organizational goals and objectives.
Understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people.
Assesses and improves the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of various work processes.
Quickly adapts and acquires new knowledge, skills, and competencies in a rapidly changing environment.
Interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organizational problems.
Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act.
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