Buyer - Own Brand Girlswear

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Own Brand Childrenswear team. This is a high profile role with opportunities to excel and build your profile across functions and directorates. We are looking for an experienced OB Buyer who uses their expert knowledge to plan and deliver the best range & proposition for customers within their category. Your remit will be to deliver agreed KPIs including sales, profit, stock & margin. You will be an experienced negotiator adept at independently managing supplier relationships. Working with your Merchandiser, you will analyse commercial input and market data from all channels to develop and bring to market own brand ranges, working alongside all relevant specialist functions to deliver a category assortment with a competitive pricing architecture & propositions. You will maximise opportunities as they arise and lead the in-season trading to potentialise the outcome for both customers and your category. You will be experienced in own brand development and sourcing and working closely with suppliers, design and sourcing teams to develop market leading assortments. You will be a People Manager of your category team’s Buying Assistants, creating the conditions for them to thrive, and balancing their focus and priorities as required.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buying Manager in creating conditions for all Partners to thrive and achieve their potential.
• Responsible for all commercial negotiations inclusive of marketing funds.
• Support the Buying Manager in building a category & propositional strategy.
• Develop and buy market leading ranges, managing product lifecycle from launch to exit.
• Collaborate with specialist functions to plan and develop ranges.
• Collaborate with specialist functions to develop a sourcing strategy for your product assortment, delivering category margin targets & ensuring your supply base complies with all CSR and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with Merchandisers to prepare and share Standardised Range Plan, in line with critical path, to hand over to the Central Operations Team.
• Alongside Merchandiser, sign off product ranges and branch grading with Buying Manager, and Head of Category when required, using reporting from Product Operations.
• Propose Balance To Achieve across commercial KPIs for the assortment each month in collaboration with the Merchandiser.

Essential skills / experience

• Retail Industry Experience: Proven extensive experience in the retail industry, with a focus on buying, category management, or product management within the designated category. Direct experience in buying practices, merchandising strategies, and supplier negotiations is essential for this role.
• Negotiation Skills: Good negotiation skills and experience in leading strategic commercial negotiations with suppliers and vendors to secure favourable terms and agreements, maximising value and profitability for the category.
• Category Expertise: In-depth knowledge and expertise within the designated category, including an understanding of product trends, customer preferences, and industry dynamics. Direct experience in range planning, product assortment development, and supplier management within the category is highly desirable.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate ideas, negotiate agreements, and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable skills / experience

• Category specific knowledge, passion or experience.

Contract, location and benefits

• Salary: £54,500 – £84,400
• Salary Expectation: up to £58,000 depending on experience
• Contract type: Fixed Term until May 2027
• Working pattern: Hybrid role; minimum 3 days per week in the office
• Location: Pimlico, London Office

Key dates

Closing Date: January 11, 2026

Other information

• Pay: £54,500.00 – £84,100.00 Annual
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Hours of Work: 35 hours
• Job Level: Partnership Level 6
• Where You\’ll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ

About the Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important notes

Some roles may require pre-employment vetting (including DBS checks). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information during recruitment. Any DBS checks will be carried out by a third-party body and financial probity checks may also be required for some roles. Vacancies can close early if there is a high number of applicants. We support flexible working where possible; discuss any flexibility with the hiring manager during interview.