Assistant Buyer

Job Introduction
Selfridges has always been much more than a shop. We’re a social space where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, a creative playground where culture and commerce collide, and an experimental hub where you can discover the most innovative and sustainable ideas in retail. We’re here to help make the world brighter. And you can be an important part of this. We’ll talk more about the role below, but before we get to that, let’s share with you the good stuff

**Rewards and benefits**

Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary.
- Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working
- Generous annual leave that increases with length of service
- Up to five paid volunteering days - from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations
- Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies
- Defined pension contribution scheme
- Generous bonus and/or commission scheme
- Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days
- Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment
- Subsidised gym memberships
- Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes
- A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme
- Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members
- Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance
- Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail

A bit about the role
As an Assistant Buyer, you will be responsible for our Mens Accessories buying department, supporting the Buyer in sourcing brands and product. You will work with the Buyer to negotiate the best terms for the business with suppliers. To ensure the ordering process is efficient and compliant with Selfridges processes and to assist the Buying Admin team where necessary. As Assistant Buyer, you will:

- Be responsible for buying for a identified area for the business - ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market
- Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, trade discounts, markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate
- Work with the Buyer and Head of Buying to ensure that Buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit
- Work closely with the Buyer and Merchandiser to plan the OTB for own area of responsibility and to monitor and review in season, making recommendations to the Buyer/Head of Buying where necessary.
- Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying
- Work with the Merchandiser to analyse performance, making recommendations to the Buyer i.e. to keep or discontinue within the business
- Communicate effectively with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
- Work closely with Marketing and PR and to be aware of promotional opportunities during negotiations with suppliers
- Be responsible for re-ordering, working within the OTB structure, ensuring decisions are communicated to the Administrator good time *
- Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area*
- Where relevant, to supervise the wider team and monitor workload
- Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
- Manage the performance of concession businesses through regular meeting with the concession and through analysis of their performance - making recommendations to Buyer where relevant
- Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
- N/B: in areas where there is a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer, this responsibility will be shared

A bit about you
- Highly knowledgeable. You will have a well-developed understanding of the product/market, as well as our Rental business
- Strategic and operational. With strong analytical skills and experience driving long-term and profitable commercial strategies, you’ll be able to successfully manage projects through to completion.
- Eng