At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying strategy for kids' apparel and create exciting product ranges.
- Company: Dynamic retail company focused on innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, staff discounts, gym memberships, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team where your ideas are valued and growth is encouraged.
- Why this job: Shape the future of kids' fashion while developing your career in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in sports fashion buying and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Reporting To: Head of Buying / Buying Director
Location: Bury Head Office
Role Purpose: Supporting the Head of Buying in delivering the set strategy to deliver a profitable, customer‑relevant, and commercially competitive product range within an agreed category/brand area. The Buying Manager builds and manages supplier relationships, and leads the day‑to‑day range, margin, stock, and cost decisions to achieve sales, profit and inventory KPIs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute category range architecture across core, seasonal, and innovation, including clear entry and exit strategies, aligned to brand and customer objectives.
- Lead the build and delivery of compelling product ranges across core, seasonal and trend‑led categories.
- Present ranges with confidence to Directors and senior stakeholders, acting as a key liaison between Heads of and wider cross‑functional teams.
- Lead, manage and develop a team of varying seniority, providing clear direction, coaching and progression opportunities to drive high performance.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the customer, competitor landscape and wider market trends; leverage external networks across brands and industry contacts to inform strategy and identify new opportunities.
- Use insight and market knowledge to shape category direction and influence broader brand strategy.
- Own product selection decisions and range sign‑off within delegated authority, ensuring commercial alignment.
- Drive pricing strategy, including recommendations on initial pricing and markdown proposals.
- Partner closely with trading and allocation teams to optimise availability and minimise lost sales.
- Identify and drive operational improvements within the buying function, championing efficiency, process development and commercial accuracy.
- Build strong relationships with brand partners to unlock opportunities and ensure competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally with Merchandising & Planning, Marketing, Ecommerce, Studio/Creative, Retail Operations and Supply Chain to ensure effective execution.
- Provide clear briefs, critical paths and timelines to support product launches, campaigns and go‑live readiness.
- Identify opportunities to improve ways of working within the buying function, driving efficiency, commercial accuracy and process consistency.
Skills & Experience Required:
- Proven experience in Sports Fashion Buying at a management level.
- Extensive network within the industry and well connected with strong brand relationships.
- Experience leading, coaching and developing a buying team (e.g., Buyers, Senior Buyers).
- Ability to delegate effectively, set priorities and manage team capacity in a fast‑paced environment.
- Confident in representing the buying function in cross‑functional and senior stakeholder meetings.
EEO Statement: We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues regardless of background, identity, or lived experience can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Benefits:
- Incremental Holiday Allowance
- Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
- Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
- Discounted Gym membership
- Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
- Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications
Buying Manager - Kids Apparel in Bury employer: JD Sports Fashion
As a Buying Manager for Kids Apparel at our Bury Head Office, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. We offer a range of benefits including an incremental holiday allowance, staff discounts, and access to personal development opportunities, ensuring that you can build a rewarding career while contributing to a commercially competitive product range. Join us to be part of a diverse team where your insights and leadership will drive success in the ever-evolving kids' fashion market.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying Manager - Kids Apparel in Bury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by knowing your stuff! Research the company, understand their product range, and be ready to discuss market trends. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re someone who’s genuinely interested in their brand.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to present your ideas confidently, especially when discussing product ranges or strategies. Grab a friend or family member and run through your thoughts – it’ll help you feel more at ease when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing applications come directly from candidates who are excited about joining us. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and really want to be part of the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Manager - Kids Apparel in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buying Manager role. Highlight your experience in Sports Fashion Buying and any relevant achievements that align with our needs. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about kids' apparel and how your skills can help us deliver a profitable product range. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Team Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your experience in coaching and developing others. Share specific examples of how you've driven high performance in your previous roles – we want to know how you can inspire our team!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at JD Sports Fashion
✨Know Your Product Range
Before the interview, dive deep into the kids' apparel market. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key competitors, and what makes a compelling product range. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to developing and executing category range architecture.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in leading and developing a buying team. Think of specific examples where you've coached team members or improved performance. Highlighting your ability to manage varying seniorities will demonstrate that you're ready to take on the responsibilities of this role.
✨Build Relationships
Since building strong supplier relationships is crucial, come armed with examples of how you've successfully collaborated with brand partners in the past. Discuss how these relationships have unlocked opportunities and provided competitive advantages, showing that you understand the importance of networking in this role.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams like Merchandising, Marketing, and Supply Chain. Be ready to share experiences where you've effectively collaborated across functions. Emphasising your communication skills and ability to provide clear briefs will show that you can ensure effective execution of product launches and campaigns.
