Selfridges Careers – Assistant Buyer

Job Description:

Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary.

Job Responsibilities:

• Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes
• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme
• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members
• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance
• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development
• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working
• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service
• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations
• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies
• Defined pension contribution scheme
• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme
• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days
• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment
• Subsidised gym memberships

Job Requirements:

• Where relevant, to supervise the wider team and monitor workload
•  N/B: in areas where there is a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer, this responsibility will be shared

   

• Work with the Buyer to ensure that Buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit
• Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area*

   

• Work closely with Marketing and PR and to be aware of promotional opportunities during negotiations with suppliers
• Be responsible for buying for a identified area for the business – ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market
• Work closely with the Buyer and Merchandiser to plan the OTB for own area of responsibility and to monitor and review in season, making recommendations to the Buyer/Head of Buying where necessary.

   

• Work with the Merchandiser to analyse performance, making recommendations to the Buyer i.e. to keep or discontinue within the business
• Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
• Be responsible for re-ordering, working within the OTB structure, ensuring decisions are communicated to the Administrator good time *
• Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, trade discounts, markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate

   

• Communicate effectively with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training

   

• Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
• Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying

   

• Manage the performance of concession businesses through regular meeting with the concession and through analysis of their performance – making recommendations to Buyer where relevant

Qualification & Experience:

• 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.
• Highly knowledgeable. You will have a well-developed understanding of the product/market

   

• 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

   

• Excellent interpersonal skills

   

• Collaborative. Working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team you will support in projects and cross functional meetings as appropriate
• An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague
• Engaging. Able to influence your stakeholders, retail and brands, you know how to use both data and market trends to drive commercial opportunities

   

• Organised with attention to detail

   

• Ability to influence

Job Details:

Company: Selfridges

Vacancy Type:  Full Time

Job Location: London, England

Application Deadline: N/A