Assistant Buyer

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.

Overview

The Assistant Buyer reports to the Buyer and they are responsible for assisting to manage the department. This includes management of the Admin Assistant, negotiation, supplier communication, overseeing the department critical path and systems admin to ensure deadlines are met.

Location: 4/5 days per week at our North Acton office, the rest working from home. We have two Assistant Buyer vacancies, one on Childrenswear and one on Womenswear.

What You Will Do

• Support the development of our amazing product working closely with internal teams and suppliers.
• Work closely with the Designers, Techs and Merchandisers to ensure the designs align with the Product Framework and are a balanced wearable offer meeting quality standards and margin targets.
• Understand cost and fabric prices required, set target prices and negotiate with suppliers to meet the required target margin.
• Support the Admin Assistant with the Critical Path, ensuring they meet deadlines, and work to the quality standards required.
• Ensure deliveries are on time and delays are communicated in a timely manner and solutions offered.
• Set up order confirmation sheets and communicate to suppliers.
• Support the Admin Assistant with lap dip, trim, and bulk approvals/rejections in line with the critical path.
• Ensure development packs and samples meet the deadlines set out in the company critical path.
• Manage trigger and repeat dates with suppliers.
• Attend weekly fit sessions and understand how fit amendments can affect garment prices and the critical path, flag concerns and find solutions.
• Manage and keep up to date liable fabric and holdings alongside your Buyer.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the supply base and internal teams to ensure smooth running of the department.
• Keep systems up to date and accurate at all times with the help of the Admin Assistant.
• Set up production BOM’s and ensure all information is accurate before placing orders with suppliers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all cross functional teams.
• Support your manager by working at pace and ensure deadlines are met.
• Manage your own workload and priorities and oversee the Admin Assistants.
• Raise in advance if deadlines cannot be met.
• Ensure decisions are made quickly and speak up if something goes wrong.

What We Are Looking For

• Passionate about a career in Buying.
• Be creative and have a keen eye for detail.
• Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Experience of being part of a team.
• Some retail or administrative experiences.
• Be organised, adaptable and enjoy a challenge.
• Clear communication skills.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Great time management.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work independently.

Our Behaviours

At Boden, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver. We keep things simple. We say what we mean, keep each other in the loop, and follow through on what we’ve said we’ll do. We care about doing a good job - and we care about each other. We’re always kind, often honest, and we will push for high standards without making it heavy. We know what we’re good at, we lean on each other when needed, and we show up as a team - taking ownership and getting things done together.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme.
• Generous Boden clothing allowance!
• 30% discount on all current clothing ranges.
• 25 days Holiday annually, plus Bank Holidays.
• Online Portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment.
• Virtual GP Service for you and your household!
• Free onsite parking and subsidised café.

We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open and tolerant. A best-of-British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities, and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job whoever they are, helping them thrive in it and celebrating their individuality. We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.