Buyer - Womenswear (12 Month Mat Cover) in London

Stylish, grounded, uplifting - these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that’s ethical, inclusive - and importantly - good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.

The Buyer is responsible for managing their department and reports into the Buying Manager. This role includes management and coaching of their team, creating, and delivering a range in line with the Product Framework and concept. Managing the supply base to create amazing product that meets Boden quality standards.

Location: 4-5 days per week at our North Acton office & 0-1 days WFH. This role is for a 12 Month Maternity Cover, candidates applying must be comfortable with this.

What You Will Do

• Clear understanding of our brand, customer, and competitors in all trading regions and ensure that all decisions made are customer focused.
• Understand economic and social trends and question their impact on the business.
• Create a clear Product Framework, including attributes each season based on trade learnings, brand direction, customer insight and new opportunities.
• Trade the department on a weekly basis, be quick to respond, identify opportunities, risk and find solutions.
• Drive the development of our amazing product, collaborating closely with internal teams and suppliers.
• Work closely with the Designers, Technicians and Merchandisers from the start of the development stage to ensure the designs align with the Product Framework and placed with the right suppliers to meet quality and margin targets.
• Align with the Fabric team and set out clear fabric price targets each season. Stay up to date with price fluctuations and when resourcing is required.
• Build and present a balanced, commercial range working closely with Design and Merchandising in line with the Framework and budgets.
• Deliver the sustainability roadmap.
• Create a supplier strategy that meets Boden's needs each season. Continually looking for opportunities through cross costing, new areas of development and risks.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and lead supplier performance reviews.
• Continually assess supply base, ensuring you’re buying from the right source and COO to deliver best price, quality, reliability, flexibility and lead times.
• Maximise your negotiation skills to meet each season's target margin, set targets and understand where you are going to make the biggest impact.
• Lead the department Critical Path to ensure deliveries are on time and delays are escalated to management with solutions. Ensure deadlines are met taking appropriate action to avoid delivery delays.
• Communicate production and fabric forecasts to suppliers in order to hold capacity and improve margin.
• Support the team with understanding quality needs and standards.
• Ensure garments are always fitted on time and with fit & failt in mind helping to reduce returns.
• Manage and keep up to date fabric and liable holdings.
• Get the best out of your team by motivating, developing and coaching, always keeping the brand values in mind.
• Hold weekly 121s and performance reviews setting clear, measurable objectives and giving regular feedback.
• Recognise talent and manage underperformance.
• Lead by example and create and culture built on trust.
• Clearly communicate to get quick decisions to avoid delays, be able to recognise when you can make the decision and what needs to be escalated.
• Ensure your team keep systems (PLM, S5, PIM) up to date and accurate at all times.

What We Are Looking For

• Relevant experience in a Fashion retailer at Buyer level.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Be creative and have a keen eye for detail.
• Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Be organised, adaptable and enjoys a challenge.
• Be strategic.
• Clear communication skills.
• Good problem solving skills.
• Great time management.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work independently.