Handbag Buyer, 6 Month FTC

The Buying team at River Island plays a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique designs across all of our channels. This is achieved through effective range planning, awareness of key commercial data and customer trends, excellent supplier relations and internal networks, and execution of the Buying Strategy to deliver sales and profit plans. The Buyer leads the sourcing strategy and range plan for their department, optimising use of supplier base, fabrication and production choices to deliver commercial results. Working collaboratively with Merchandising, Design and Technical teams, the Buyer delivers product aligned to the River Island brand and customer. In addition, the Buyer contributes broad market and industry awareness to grow market share and margin, and to contribute to our Sustainability commitments.

Department: Womenswear

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver a highly commercial and well-balanced range for all channels through working closely with Design and Merchandising, that supports delivery of the department strategy.
• Through a strong and current understanding of our customers, the industry, our channels and our competitors, including gaining insight through store visits and comp shops, propose initiatives and take action on opportunities across to drive sales and margin, including new product trial strategy.
• Through thorough analysis of sales and margin history, alongside their Merchandiser propose adjustments to immediate and longer-term financial plans, OTB and on order to optimise margin.
• Manage trading performance of their department/area alongside their Merchandising counterpart, ensuring they quickly identify and positively react to both risks and opportunities.
• Through working closely with Merchandising counterparts, quantify the top cash lines, and plan for options by range through all store grades.
• Seek out and take action on opportunities for margin growth through understanding and exploring our processes, products components, souring methods and supplier base, balancing this with delivery of technical, fabric and product compliance requirements.
• Through strong supplier relationships, ensure on time product development and delivery and negotiate best possible deals whilst maintaining a high level of ethics in how we partner with and support our suppliers.
• Plans sourcing strategies that reduce costs and grows margin with consideration of all external factors, whilst incorporating an understanding of sustainable practices in sourcing, development and production to deliver on our sustainability commitments.
• Supports Technical team in fit sessions to ensure all quality and fit of all product is to River Island standards.
• Strong and clear management of the Critical Path and development process to ensure the timely delivery of product.
• Build strong partnerships with Merchandising, Design and Technical counterparts to ensure they are all engaged at the right point in the CP.
• Identifies all wholesale opportunities and looks for all opportunities to drive performance.
• Communicating with cross divisional counterparts regarding supplier mix, cloth and trade info to gain insight to drive opportunities.
• Builds cross divisional working relationships and external networks to develop broad perspective and identify future opportunities.
• Grows talent within the Buying team, identifying readiness for next role, providing learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring in a timely way to enable everyone to realise their individual potential.
• Manage a team effectively, setting the direction and objectives to be achieved for your department, ensuring the team is aligned and working towards those objectives, and driving for a high-performance team.

Key Experience Required

• Previous experience as a Buyer, or established Junior Buyer is required.
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable.
• Track record of delivering and exceeding sales and margin targets is essential.
• A strong supplier and industry network is essential.
• Track record of identifying and delivering on new product opportunities.
• Track record of driving team and individual performance and engagement.

Job Role Competencies

• Very strong commercial and analytical skills.
• Very strong verbal and numerical reasoning skills.
• Very strong negotiation skills.
• Very strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Skilled at presenting new ideas, flexing style and approach to gain buy-in.
• Very strong people management, coaching, mentoring and development skills.
• Very strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, emotional intelligence and self-management.
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills.
• Builds genuine relationships with peers, highly collaborative approach.
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented.
• Tenacious, resilient and adaptable to change.
• Change advocate with a curious, continuous learning mindset.
• Forward-thinking, innovative.
• Passion for the RI brand and customer.

Safety & EEO

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.