Assistant Buyer - Beauty

Role Responsibility
As an Assistant Buyer for Beauty, you will support the Buyer in sourcing brands and product. You will work with the Buyer to negotiate the best terms for the business with suppliers. To ensure the ordering process is efficient and compliant with our processes and to assist the wider buying team where necessary.

As an Assistant Buyer you will:

Responsible for our beauty buy - ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market
Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, trade discounts, markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate
Work with the Buyer and Head of Buying to ensure that Buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit
Work closely with the Buyer and Merchandiser to quantify new launch orders
Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer
Work with the Merchandiser to analyse performance, making recommendations to the Buyer/Head of Buying i.e. to keep or discontinue within the business
Communicate effectively with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
Work closely with Marketing and PR and to be aware of promotional opportunities during negotiations with suppliers
Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area*
Where relevant, to supervise the Administrator and monitor workload
Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
Manage the performance of concession businesses through regular meeting with the concession and through analysis of their performance – making recommendations to Buyer where relevant
Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new launches and product training
* N/B: in areas where there is a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer, this responsibility will be shared

The Ideal Candidate
Highly knowledgeable. You will have a well-developed understanding of the product/market​
Strategic and operational. With strong analytical skills and experience driving long-term and profitable commercial strategies, you’ll be able to successfully manage projects through to completion. ​
Engaging and interpersonal. You will be able to influence your stakeholders, retail and brands, you know how to use both data and market trends to drive commercial opportunities ​
Customer focused. Combined with exceptional taste and instinct, you are able to push the boundaries to offer new and exciting product​
All over the numbers. You are numerate with a highly commercial approach, as well as proficient in excel​
Collaborative. Working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team you will support in projects and cross functional meetings as appropriate
Organised with exceptional attention to detail