Assistant Buyer - Menswear Brands

What's in it for you?

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.

Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:

· 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation

· Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more

· Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours

· Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future

· Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one

· Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal

· Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave

· 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services

· One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you

What you'll do

• To work with Merchandising and all other relevant areas of the business to aggressively trade the product area and hit / exceed Buying targets
• To demonstrate a clear understanding of M&S’ customer, ensuring the segments and demographics needs are understood and put at the heart of the product offer developed
• To work with Design to interpret and adapt to market trends and direction, ensuring that the conceptual global range developed is differentiating and targeted to the needs of the customer
• To analyse historical sales in line with trends and design direction to manage product mix parameters including price architecture, colour balance, shape and margin to deliver a highly commercial and balanced range
• To work in collaboration with Sourcing Offices globally to develop appropriate supply routes enabling the Department to react to trade, as well as negotiating the best prices and lead times with supplier to achieve the gross margin buying target
• To provide leadership and direction to junior members of the Buying team as well as Sourcing Office product merchandisers creating a global team culture
• To co-ordinate and support the development of product Tech Packs, working with Design, Technology and Sourcing Offices to achieve better hit rates and taking accountability to ensure Tech Packs are delivered complete and on time to minimise sampling lead times
• To take accountability for managing the departmental critical path, providing guidance and direction to junior members of the Buying team as well as other participants in the buying and global product development process
• To present the global range for sign-off and effectively manage systemic elements of the buying process, taking accountability for the timely completion of relevant systemic approvals and processes
• To demonstrate good knowledge of the Departmental finished goods and materials supply base and support processes to ensure M&S’ scale and buying power is fully leveraged
• Drive department strategy giving consideration to wider BU, C&H and Int C&H strategy
• Assist the International team to maximise M&S departmental sales during International Buying events

Who you are

• Technical Knowledge and proven track record of developing and trading highly commercial ranges that exceed sales / profit targets
• At least 3-5 years buying experience with a major retailer
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with Design, Merchandising and Technology and Global Sourcing Offices where used
• In-depth knowledge of cost price negotiations and global sourcing and ability to collaborate with colleagues in Global Sourcing Offices (where used) to develop the supply base
• To develop and build a comprehensive product range including packaging which satisfies all customers’ future requirements
• Understanding and delivery of the concepts of brand strategy
• An in-depth knowledge of the current competitive market place
• Good understanding of global retail market place with the ability to identify relevant product trends
• Basic understanding of Merchandise Planning
• Ability to understand M&S Buying systems End to End and manage systems accountabilities for the Department
• Critical Path Management
• Strong knowledge of materials used and understanding of material supply base, as well as external market conditions including key economic, political and social shifts
• Highly organised approach and commitment to closing and completing tasks
• Strong communication and influencing skills with a 3D approach
• A digital and global mind-set that supports the growth of international and online business

Everyone's Welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

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