Head of Buying- Fashion & Accessories

Our client is a forward-thinking fashion and lifestyle brand with a global customer base. They are known for delivering high-quality, design-led products across fashion and accessories with a niche market. With a strong focus on fabric and trim development, brand identity, and commercial performance, the brand is entering an exciting phase of growth and evolution.

As Head of Buying, you are the strategic architect of the brand’s entire physical and visual product output. Leading the Product Department, you will oversee senior leaders across Product Development, Creative & Content, and Garment Technology. You will be accountable for delivering a cohesive, commercially successful collection that balances creative excellence with operational rigour and market relevance. This is a senior leadership role requiring a results-driven professional who can bridge creative vision and commercial reality, ensuring the product offer consistently exceeds customer expectations.

• Global Product Roadmap: Define and lead a multi-category product strategy aligned with the brand’s long‑term vision, growth ambitions, and financial objectives.
• Go-To-Market Excellence: Oversee product launches, collaborations, licensing, and sub‑brand development, managing the full journey from concept through design, development, and launch.
• Data-Led Assortment Planning: Analyse sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to inform future assortments. Partner with Merchandising to develop post‑season reviews and “lessons learned” frameworks that drive continuous improvement.
• Inventory Optimisation: Work closely with Merchandising and Finance to maximise sell‑through, manage risk, and minimise excess inventory while protecting margin and brand integrity.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as the key decision-maker across Creative, Product Development, and Garment Technology, ensuring design intent, quality, and commercial objectives are aligned throughout the product lifecycle.
• Total Brand Experience: Own the Total Product Package strategy, ensuring product, packaging, visuals, and execution deliver a consistent, premium customer experience.
• Quality & Innovation: Set and enforce best-in-class quality standards across all categories. Lead high‑level fit reviews, product testing, and final approvals to ensure excellence in construction, fit, and finish.
• Global Sourcing Strategy: Build and maintain senior-level relationships with international manufacturing partners. Travel to production regions and industry trade shows to drive innovation, secure competitive pricing, and uphold ethical and sustainability standards.
• Cost & Margin Management: Lead cost negotiations at SKU and category level, ensuring target AUCs are achieved without compromising quality or design intent.
• High-Performance Culture: Directly manage and mentor senior leaders within Product Development, Creative, and Technical teams. Set clear expectations, hold teams accountable for delivery, and foster strong cross‑functional collaboration.
• Executive Problem Solving: Act as the escalation point for complex challenges, delivering clear, actionable solutions to the Senior Leadership Team and C‑suite.
• End-to-End Ownership: Full accountability for the product lifecycle, from concept to consumer, measured against timelines, quality standards, and commercial KPIs.
• Strategic Impact: Demonstrable contribution to business growth through enhanced product performance, operational efficiency, and customer experience.
• Leadership by Example: Inspire, motivate and develop teams, setting the benchmark for professional excellence.
• Trusted Partner: Operate as a strategic partner to the Founder or Executive Team, translating vision into executable, scalable product strategies.
• Strategic Thinker: Able to anticipate how today’s product decisions impact brand equity and financial performance over the long term.
• Decisive Leader: Confident making data‑informed decisions in fast‑paced, high‑pressure environments.
• Creative & Commercial: Equally comfortable championing design excellence and delivering strong business outcomes.
• People-Focused Leader: A coach and mentor who empowers senior managers to lead and develop high‑performing teams.

• 10+ Years in Fashion Leadership: Extensive experience in Fashion Product Management or Fashion Product Development, including senior leadership roles at Head of or Director level.
• Multi-Category Expertise: Proven experience managing apparel, accessories, and lifestyle or hard‑goods categories.
• Team Leadership: Strong track record leading cross‑functional creative, technical, and commercial teams.
• Global Supply Chain Knowledge: Deep experience in international sourcing, vendor management, social compliance, cost engineering, and sustainability.
• Systems & Process Expertise: Advanced understanding of PLM systems, critical path management, and digital asset workflows.

WORKING ARRANGEMENT: This is a full‑time position (37.5 hours per week, Monday–Friday) operating on a hybrid working model, with a mix of on‑site and flexible working.