Assistant Buyer

About the role

It’s developing new and unique products that will fly off the shelves.
It’s feeling valued for your contribution. And it’s supporting a team that delivers commercial success that supports the ongoing care of a world-renowned collection. This is what makes working for the Royal Collection Trust exceptional.

Our retail operation spans eleven permanent shops, a seasonal outlet, selected partners and a growing online presence. The vast majority of our products are exclusive to us and designed in-house, with a strong emphasis on UK manufacturing and heritage.

Based at St James’s Palace, this is a great opportunity for an experienced Assistant Buyer to join a high-performing team. You’ll support the end-to-end development of product ranges that reflect the Royal Collection and align with our brand values. Working closely with our in-house design, merchandising and retail teams, you’ll play a key role in shaping product strategy and delivering ranges that resonate with our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the buying team in developing and delivering high-quality, commercially successful product ranges, from initial ideation, through to design, marketing, and launch.
• Manage supplier relationships and maintain clear communication across internal teams.
• Oversee the day-to-day work of the Buying Administrative Assistant.
• Monitor and report on product performance, using trade reports and margin analysis to inform decision making.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation including range plans, product specifications and cost price sheets.
• Contribute to trend research, competitor shopping, product benchmarking and category reviews.

About you

• With previous experience at an Assistant Buyer level in a retail environment, you’ll have a foundation in product development and a strong sense of what makes a range commercially and creatively successful.
• Experience in homeware and gifting products, along with knowledge of UK sourcing would also be an advantage.
• Driven by high standards, you can be relied upon to develop ranges that stand out in terms of design, quality and craftmanship.
• With excellent analytical and numerical skills, you’ll be confident analysing performance data to spot trends and look ahead to spot opportunities for future products.
• An exceptional communicator, you’ll be able to build and develop good working relationships with suppliers and colleagues alike.
• Organised, self-motivated and with a flexible approach, you’ll be able to manage a varied work and adapt to changing timescales and priorities.

Benefits

We know that to deliver our best work; we need to feel at our best. That’s why at the Royal Household we offer a generous benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and life priorities.

• Enjoy 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days (plus bank holidays) dependent on the length of time you have worked for us.
• Our excellent non-contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 15% and you can contribute more if you wish) is highly valued by our employees, as is complimentary lunch on-site to keep you fuelled throughout the day.
• Flexible and hybrid working varies across different roles, and we’ll discuss the options available to you that will suit both your job requirements and individual preferences.
• We also offer a range of leave options to support your life priorities, such as parental pay and leave and volunteering days, as well as benefits to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Other perks include 20% off at our Royal Collection Trust Shops and complimentary admission tickets across all our locations, along with many more exclusive employee discounts.