At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead buying strategy, shape product direction, and stay ahead of trends.
- Company: Oh Polly, a fast-growing fashion brand with a strong social presence.
- Benefits: 50% discount on products, competitive salary, extra day off for your birthday, and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be a key decision-maker in a dynamic environment and influence fashion trends.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in buying, trend forecasting, and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
About Oh Polly
Founded in 2015, Oh Polly is a fast-growing, social first fashion brand that creates trend driven, high quality premium products. With a focus on innovation, global responsibility, and ethics. We’ve built a combined social following of over 10 million across our brands, including Bo+Tee; our activewear line. Operating across multiple global offices, we are a dynamic team offering ambitious individuals the chance to thrive, grow, and take their careers to the next level.
The Role
Oh Polly is looking for a Head of Buying based in London or Dubai to lead one of the most critical functions in the business. This is a hands-on role for someone who is deeply trend-obsessed, commercially minded, and confident working directly with the Founder in a fast-paced environment. You will be a true decision-maker, owning the buy from concept to shaping the product direction of the brand alongside the Founder, and ensuring Oh Polly stays ahead of social trends and commercial opportunity.
You must be confident in making and standing by recommendations, open to direct feedback and challenge, and equally capable of executing final decisions with speed, focus and precision.
Key Responsibilities
- Buying & Commercial Leadership
- Own the global buying strategy across categories, ensuring all product decisions are commercially strong, trend-relevant and on-brand.
- Make decisive calls on range planning, pricing, and risk.
- Balance creativity with margin, sell-through and speed to market.
- Act as a senior decision-maker, with accountability for wins and misses.
- Founder Partnership
- Work closely with the Founder on product direction, range sign-off and seasonal vision.
- Confidently challenge ideas when appropriate, using data, trend insight and market intelligence.
- Take feedback directly and professionally; adapt quickly.
- Come up with trends and ideas to keep on top of our competitors.
- Trend, Social & Culture Obsession
- Be on top of social media, culture, influencers, celebrities and global trends.
- Translate TikTok, Instagram, and lifestyle moments into fast, commercial product opportunities.
- Regularly present trend direction, competitive insights and new opportunities to the Founder and wider product team.
- Product Development & Design Collaboration
- Work hand-in-hand with Design to shape silhouettes, fabrics, colour palettes and finishes.
- Ensure design creativity is aligned with commercial viability and customer demand.
- Push for innovation while protecting brand DNA.
- Factory & Supplier Relationships
- Build and maintain strong relationships with factories and suppliers.
- Work closely with the production and technical teams to ensure quality, cost, speed and feasibility.
- Be involved in product development from initial concept through to final bulk approval.
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Production, Technical, Marketing and Ecommerce.
- Ensure buying decisions support wider business goals, launches and campaigns.
- Be hands-on when needed; this is not a purely strategic role.
Key Skills & Experience
- 7+ years’ experience in buying with a relevant brand, with at least 3+ years in a senior role.
- Trend forecasting and seasonal product planning.
- Assortment planning with focus on best sellers and margin management.
- Vendor and supplier negotiation, including international sourcing.
- Inventory management and stock optimisation.
- Data-driven decision-making using sales and performance analytics.
- Leadership and team management experience.
- Knowledge of fashion, digital-first, and social commerce trends.
- Cross-functional collaboration with design, social, marketing, and operations teams.
What’s on offer?
- 50% discount on all Oh Polly, Bo+Tee products.
- Salary: £70,000 - £80,000.
- An extra day off for your birthday.
- Learning and development opportunities.
- Company pension.
- Company social events.
This Company is an equal opportunities employer. Oh Polly job positions are open to all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Head of Buying in London employer: Oh Polly
Contact Detail:
Oh Polly Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the brand inside out! Dive into Oh Polly's social media, website, and product lines. Understanding their vibe and values will help you connect with the team and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral. Plus, it shows you're proactive!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by thinking about how your experience aligns with the role. Be ready to discuss specific trends you've spotted and how you’d tackle buying decisions at Oh Polly. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Oh Polly family.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Trend Knowledge: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your obsession with trends. We want to see how you stay ahead of the curve and how you can translate social media moments into commercial opportunities.
Be Specific About Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous roles; dive into the specifics! Tell us about your buying strategies, how you’ve managed vendor relationships, and any successful product launches you've led. We love details!
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we appreciate professionalism, we also want to get a sense of who you are. Share your passion for fashion and why you’re excited about the opportunity at Oh Polly. Let your personality shine through!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oh Polly
✨Know Your Trends
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest fashion trends, especially those that are trending on social media. Be ready to discuss how these trends can translate into buying decisions and product direction for Oh Polly.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Mindset
Prepare to demonstrate your understanding of balancing creativity with commercial viability. Bring examples of past buying strategies you've implemented that led to successful product launches and strong margins.
✨Be Ready for Direct Feedback
Since this role involves working closely with the Founder, be prepared to receive and act on direct feedback. Show that you can adapt quickly and use constructive criticism to refine your ideas and strategies.
✨Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration
Discuss your experience in collaborating with various teams like design, marketing, and production. Share specific examples of how you’ve worked across departments to achieve a common goal, ensuring that buying decisions align with broader business objectives.