Knitwear Buyer - Womenswear in London

As a Buyer on knitwear, you maximise your department’s sales and profitability by executing the right product and purchasing strategy for the customer, balancing time, price, quality, quantity and range. You lead product development with a strong understanding of COS aesthetics and the COS customer, ensuring efficient component and product development that supports growth and profitability. In close collaboration with the Assortment Planner and Senior Designer, you plan and deliver a strong, cohesive assortment, working cross‑functionally with the Buying, Design, Pattern, Material and Supply Chain teams to secure a commercially sound range.

What you will do:

• Responsible to plan and execute the product development from start to end in close collaboration with the Buying team.
• Responsible to execute an efficient component and product development strategy and sample handling in terms of purpose of the product, profitability, and sustainability for your department.
• Together with the Assortment Planner/Senior Buyer, you are responsible for building the range plan for your department and having a balanced assortment.
• Together with the Assortment Planner/Senior Buyer plan, analyse, and adjust product, price, and profitability strategies to meet department goals.
• Work towards the omni channel strategy and drive the timelines for your department.
• Securing the best purchase, by buying at the right time, the right item based on current fashion and customer needs.
• Guide, inspire and develop Assistant and Junior Buyers, challenging them to act with confidence.
• Keep updated with the overall market conditions and share relevant customer insights with product and Buying team and take actions accordingly.
• Develop strong relationships with Production office teams to ensure best samples and on‑time delivery.
• Together with the Buying team constantly follow‑up, react and identify new sales opportunities, based on selling, customer insight and surrounding analysis.
• Have a clear understanding of the customers' needs and a customer focus in the component and product development.
• Work in close collaboration with the Senior Buyer/Buying team, Assortment Planners and Designers, ensuring to offer products for all customer segments.

What you need to succeed:

• Previous experience as a Buyer on Womenswear – Knitwear expertise essential.
• Product development background working with an in‑house design team (luxury/high‑quality products beneficial).
• Up‑to‑date and knowledgeable in the latest trends, styles, patterns, silhouettes, fabrics and colours.
• Excellent knowledge of the global fashion industry and awareness of future fashion and trend predictions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to inspire, influence and present confidently.
• Pragmatic and outcome‑oriented, leveraging data to make informed decisions.
• Thrives in a fast paced, agile environment with exceptional organisational skills and ability to re‑prioritise on a consistent basis.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time permanent contract based at our Head Office in London, 5 days per week.

Benefits:

• We offer all our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe.
• All our employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all our H&M Group brands in stores and online.
• In addition to our staff discount, all our employees are included in our H&M Incentive Program – HIP.
• UK based colleagues also receive up to 25 days holiday, annual health checks, pension scheme, discounts on various activities and financial/lifestyle products via our benefits hub, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership, employee assistance via retail trust, private health & dental care.

Inclusion & Diversity:

At COS we’re determined to create and maintain inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces throughout our organisation. Our teams should consist of a variety of people that share and combine their knowledge, experience and ideas. Having a diverse workforce leads to a positive impact on how we address challenges, on what we perceive possible and on how we choose to relate to our colleagues and customers all over the world. Hence all diversity dimensions are taken into consideration in our recruitment process.