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 in Bury employer: Naylor's Equestrian Llp
As the Head of Buying for Men's Footwear, you will join a dynamic and innovative team that prioritises collaboration and creativity in a fast-paced retail environment. Our company fosters a culture of growth, offering extensive professional development opportunities and a commitment to sustainability, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact while advancing your career. Located in a vibrant area, we provide a supportive workplace where your contributions are valued, and your passion for customer-centric strategies can thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying - Men's Footwear in Bury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. We want you to walk in with insights that show you’re not just another candidate, but someone who understands the market and can drive category growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Talk about how you’ve built high-performing teams and managed supplier relationships. We love hearing about your experiences that align with our values of curiosity and customer obsession.
✨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’re always looking for candidates who are proactive and engaged.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying - Men's Footwear in Bury
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 category buying and leadership, and show us how you can drive growth and profitability in our men's footwear portfolio.
Showcase Your Achievements:We want to see your successes! Include specific examples of how you've delivered category growth or improved margins in previous roles. Numbers speak volumes, so don’t shy away from sharing metrics that demonstrate your impact.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
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 ensures you’re considered for the position. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Naylor's Equestrian Llp
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Buying, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key metrics. Brush up on your knowledge of category growth, margin improvement, and inventory efficiency. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've successfully driven these metrics in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
Prepare to articulate your vision for the buying strategy. Think about how you would align it with the business plan and what innovative approaches you would bring to the table. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your strategic thinking and operational execution.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong people leadership. Be prepared to share your experiences in building and developing high-performing teams. Discuss how you've managed performance and fostered a culture of curiosity and customer obsession in your previous positions.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
You'll need to manage executive-level stakeholders effectively. Practice how you would present category performance, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership. Highlight your ability to influence business direction and collaborate across functions, as this will be crucial in your role.
