Assistant Buyer

** Must have had Office based Buyers Admin experience for this role**

Fixed Term Contract - 12 months

Reports to Buyer

**Main Purpose of Job**

This role is responsible for supporting the buying function, through working effectively aligned to best practice standards and working to and supporting the management of the product development critical path.

**Key Responsibilities/ Results areas**:

- Support the Buyer and/or Junior Buyer by ensuring the administration of the departmental buying function is operating effectively. Support the BAAs to achieve this as required.
- Be the go to person for the BAA’s in the case of day to day administrative queries and issues.
- Working with the BAAs the AB is responsible for escalating any issues to the Buyer. Work with the Buyer on resolving issues and implementing solutions.
- Work with the BAAs to ensure the sampling process adheres to the best practice sample management process including working with the BAAs to keep the administration and storage of samples up to date and in line with best practice standards and legal requirements.
- Work with the Buyer and BAAs to ensure that all samples required by VM, Design, QA and retail partners are available and submitted within the required Critical Path deadlines.
- Ensure all samples submitted are correct and the relevant teams including retail partners have the information they need.
- Ensure any issues with packaging are escalated to the appropriate team member/Buyer and seek the appropriate support to resolve any issues as required.
- Work with the Buyer and/or JB to ensure that the seasonal packaging manuals are up to date and that the department is fully compliant in adhering to the brand packaging manuals.
- Work with the buyer to ensure all new styles are briefed into the Design department in a timely and effective manner in line with the Packaging process.

Trading and Commercial Department
- Support the buyer and oversee the BAAs to put together best and worst and other relevant trading boards, range development and presentation boards and retail partner presentation boards.
- Support the BAA with informing the Buyer and Merchandiser on any elements from LOM that have the potential to impact on original shipment dates.
- Work with the Buyer and support the development of the BAAs on conducting competitor shops and presenting the market, product and price commercial insights to the team, the Buyer and the Head of Product Development as required.
- Aware of the critical path activities and timelines and supports the Buyer in delivering.
- Work with the Buyer and Merchandising to manage and progress the product development critical path.
- Ensure all products in development and orders placed are meeting the ritical path deadlines.
- Work with the Buyer to communicate with and respond to supplier queries and communicate information as required.
- Work with the Buyer on specific buying projects such as buying a category or parts of the range that will add value to the business.
- Through these buying projects develop buying, range building and product development and negotiation skills.
- Be aware of the departmental seasonal strategy and the overall business strategy. Be able to input into department strategy discussions and tactical plans.
- Work with the Buyer on delivery of the strategy and tactical plans including understanding the responsibilities and accountabilities of the AB role in delivering the department strategy, plans and KPIs.
- Work with the Buyer on the seasonal frameworks and the phase range builds aligned to the department/brand strategy and commercial frameworks to develop range building skills.

Product Development
- Work with and support the Buyer and Design on creative product development research to identify new market trends and product/range ideas in line with the appropriate brand/creative brief.
- Support the Buyer and Designer to create compelling seasonal range visions that take the product range and the business forward in a way that delivers the commercial KPIs and is aligned to the retail partner’s brand.
- Support the Buyer and work with on creative research boards as required.
- Support the Buyer and Designer by working on ongoing new trend and product development in line with trade, the market, emerging new business opportunities and the direction of the retail partner brand.
- Work with the Buyer and the Designer on the Phase supplier briefing packs to build product development and range building skills.
- Work with & support the Buyer, design team & licensor to have a full awareness of brand values & latest style guides to fully exploit creative product opportunities.

**Skills**
- Organised and able to plan and prioritise your workload
- Excellent communication skills and be able to work well within a team
- Be able to work on their own initiative
- Be a committed team player.

**Development of self**
- Work with the Buyer and/or JB on developing skills

Attend training