At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying strategy for men's footwear and drive sustainable growth.
- Company: Dynamic retail brand focused on innovation and customer obsession.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and a vibrant team culture.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with opportunities for career advancement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of men's footwear and make impactful decisions.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in retail buying and strong strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Reporting To – Buying Director
Role Purpose
To set and lead the category buying strategy and deliver sustainable growth and profitability across a portfolio of categories/brands. The Head of Buying is accountable for strategic range direction, trading performance, team leadership, supplier strategy, and governance, ensuring the buying function delivers the right product at the right time, price and quantity across all channels.
Key Accountabilities
- Define and deliver the category/brand buying strategy aligned to the business plan.
- Own category vision, segmentation, range frameworks and multi‑channel proposition (store, online, partner).
- Lead seasonal planning cycles, innovation roadmap, and long‑term supplier strategy.
- Set trading cadence: weekly trade, forecasting, exception management, and in‑season actions.
- Establish governance for range sign‑off and risk controls.
- Build strategic supplier partnerships (joint business plans, exclusives, cost roadmaps, marketing investment).
- Lead major negotiations: long‑term terms, rebates, funding, volume commitments, and strategic deals.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing buying team (succession planning, capability frameworks, coaching).
- Set clear objectives and ways of working; role model strong decision making and accountability.
- Recruit, performance manage, and build a culture of pace, curiosity and customer obsession.
Cross‑functional & Executive Stakeholder Management
- Partner with Merch/Planning leadership to own OTB strategy and inventory investment decisions.
- Align with Marketing, Creative, Digital, Retail Ops and Supply Chain to deliver go‑to‑market readiness.
- Present category performance, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership with clear recommendations.
- Own customer insight loops: trend research, competitor benchmarking, customer feedback, analytics.
- Drive test‑and‑learn approaches (newness rate, capsule drops, exclusives, pricing experiments).
- Final sign‑off (or recommendation authority) on range frameworks and key supplier choices.
- Ownership of category investment decisions (OTB strategy) within agreed budgets.
- Approves pricing architecture principles and markdown strategy for category.
- Accountable for team structure and operating model within function.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Significant leadership experience in buying/trading within retail or multi‑channel.
- Proven track record delivering category growth, margin improvement, and inventory efficiency at scale.
- Strong strategic thinking paired with high operational trading cadence.
- Executive‑level stakeholder management and ability to influence business direction.
- Strong people leadership: building teams, developing capability, managing performance.
Desirable
- Experience leading multi‑category portfolios or complex branded environments.
- International sourcing/negotiation exposure and strategic supplier management.
- Experience operating in high‑volume, fast‑paced retail with short lead times.
- Vision and strategic clarity.
- Commercial leadership and risk discipline.
- Inspiring people leadership.
- Decisive, accountable decision making.
- High‑impact communication (exec storytelling).
- Collaborative leadership across functions.
- Customer obsession and trend awareness.
Head of Buying - Men's Footwear employer: JD GROUP
As a leading player in the retail sector, our company offers an exceptional work environment for the Head of Buying - Men's Footwear role, characterised by a culture of innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from comprehensive professional development opportunities, competitive compensation packages, and a commitment to sustainability that drives our buying strategy. Located in a vibrant area, we foster a dynamic atmosphere where creativity thrives, ensuring that our team is well-equipped to deliver outstanding results while enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying - Men's Footwear
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and challenges. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re someone who understands their business and can contribute right away.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs. Highlight your leadership skills and strategic thinking, especially in buying and trading.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying - Men's Footwear
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Buying role. Highlight your experience in buying/trading and how it aligns with our category strategy. We want to see how you can drive growth and profitability!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We’re looking for someone who can lead a high-performing team. Share examples of how you've built and developed teams in the past, and how you’ve managed performance. This is your chance to shine as a people leader!
Demonstrate Strategic Thinking:In your application, illustrate your strategic thinking capabilities. Talk about how you've successfully delivered category growth and margin improvement. We love candidates who can think big and execute effectively!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you into our system. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at JD GROUP
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the men's footwear market. Understand current trends, key competitors, and customer preferences. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to drive category growth.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your leadership experience in detail. Share specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams and managed performance. Highlight your approach to coaching and developing talent, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Prepare for Negotiation Scenarios
Expect questions around supplier negotiations and strategic partnerships. Think of past experiences where you successfully negotiated terms or built joint business plans. Be ready to articulate your negotiation strategy and how it led to positive outcomes.
✨Align with Business Objectives
Understand the company's overall business plan and how the buying strategy fits into it. Be ready to discuss how you would align category vision and range frameworks with broader company goals, showcasing your ability to think strategically and collaboratively.
