Buying & Production Manager (East)

Established in 1994, East is a British brand with a deep-rooted connection to India\’s rich history and artisanal traditions. We create timeless pieces designed to be treasured, and handed down as heirlooms in contrast to overconsumption and waste. Each garment is crafted to tell a story – one of artistry and culture.

In 2018, Peter Simon, founder of Monsoon Accessorize, acquired East with a vision to preserve its dedication to craft and heritage. Relaunched in 2019, East remains true to its origins while embracing fresh ideas that drive the brand forward. More about East can be found here: https://www.east.co.uk/

We\’re now looking for a Buying & Production Manager (12 months FTC). Reporting into the Brand Director, you will be overseeing and managing critical path, alongisde merchandising and production – liaising with factory suppliers to ensuring we\’re on track. As a small brand, this role will be responsible for overseeing buying and merchandising, wholesale and production.

This is an exciting opportunity to be apart of a small and growing brand with sustainable and ethical production at the forefront.

What will you do as a Buying & Production Manager?

Critical Path Management

• Oversee and manage CP, ensuring timely bookings for monthly deliveries and flagging any delays.
• Maintain and update trackers, integrating it with other trackers used. Create new trackers seasonally or annually as required.
• Monitor delivery schedules and keep track of production status for booked styles.

Buying & Merchandising

• Prepare monthly range plan sheets, analyzing last year’s sales to forecast and guide upcoming buys.
• Negotiate costings, delivery timelines, and terms with suppliers to achieve margin and delivery targets.
• Provide weekly and monthly trade updates, including performance vs. last year, monthly goals, sell-throughs, and weekly styles sold/ratio analysis.
• Keep up to date with Compshop reports and price architecture.
• Tracking demand is inline with P&L goals
• Manage purchase orders: raising, updating, and tracking through the system.
• Lead onboarding and training of new suppliers, ensuring alignment with company buying, shipment, and compliance processes.
• Keeping track of stock levels

Wholesale

• Arranging range review meetings with team monthly and assist in styles being booked by wholesale team
• Sharing all relevant information with the team regarding styles booked.
• Reviewing all POs raised.
• Updating team weekly on deliveries or delays

Sampling & New Product Management

• Manage and update MSL for core fabrics with suppliers every season.
• Partner with suppliers to develop new samples sent by the design team, ensuring adherence to timelines and escalating delays when necessary.
• Track progress on new developments, including dispatch dates, and follow up to resolve bottlenecks.
• Act as a key link between suppliers and the design team, addressing development concerns and ensuring smooth collaboration.

Fit & Quality Control

• Attend and contribute to fit sessions, collaborating with technical teams to resolve fit issues efficiently.
• Proactively flag styles at risk of delay due to fit or quality concerns.
• Liaise with the international QC team to monitor inspections and elevate quality issues as required.
• Develop and maintain a structured fit tracking plan, prioritizing styles and ensuring timely updates.

Finance

• Raise and approve non stock POs when required
• Raise invoices for wholesale when required

What you will need to succeed as a Buying & Production Manager?

• 3 – 5 years Buying experience within apparel
• Excellent PC skills (Microsoft Excel formulas) with an emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy
• Educational background or degree in Fashion Textile or similar
• Passion for working closely with product and suppliers design teams to create a balanced profitable range
• Strong commercial understanding of the ladieswear market, especially within Indian heritage / artisanal categories
• Strong negotiation skills across varied countries of origin (India)
• Desirable – knowledge of Shopify (our trading website)
• Strong communications skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels (desirable – commuication in Hindi with factory suppliers)
• Active team player and a self starter who constantly contributes, supports and develops the team, who is also able to facilitate special projects

What will we offer you in return?

• 25 days holiday with the option to purchase additional holiday through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Bonus day off each year after 6 months service
• A pension that you will be automatically be enrolled in after 3 months
• Life assurance (subject to participating in the pension scheme)
• A flexible working approach
• Early pay day Friday finish
• A generous staff discount with up to 50% discount on our products
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounted membership at our on campus wellness centre
• Additional discounts such as Westfield discount, etc.

What will grow if you feel the role fits? Let us know and apply today.

At Monsoon Accessorize we don’t focus only on what we do, we also care about how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce and an environment where we value and respect every individual\’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people and are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will also consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

We provide reasonable accommodations as needed to people with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at careers@monsoon.co.uk to request discuss any specific requirements.