Assistant Buyer - Advanced - Women's Outerwear

We have an exciting opportunity at M&S for an experienced Assistant Buyer to join our buying team on womenswear clothing specifically on Tailoring & Formal Outerwear. This role comes at a pivotal time, as we strengthen the development of the our global omnichannel strategy ensuring we offer the best product proposition on the market. As an Advanced Assistant Buyer, you’ll report into a Senior Buyer working collaboratively with International, Merchandising, Technical and Design teams. You will demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for product, and initiative in carrying out the responsibilities of the role. Product is at the heart of everything we do and you will play an important role in this through the management of critical path, customer and market knowledge and a strong fashion eye.

What you will be doing

• Support the Buyer by displaying 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
• Support the Buyer working 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
• Work with the Buyer 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
• Promote and support the collaboration with Sourcing Offices globally to help 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
• Contribute as an active member of the Buying team to work within a commercially focussed culture
• To support the Buyer with the co-ordination and 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 work with the Buyer to manage the departmental critical path (including supporting approvals), providing guidance and direction to junior members of the Buying team as well as other participants in the buying and global product development To own and drive the production critical path.
• Manage BAAs to ensure efficient product & sample management across the buying floor in order to meet all H&S Support BAA training and development to help upskill teams.
• To actively participate in coordinating and presenting the global range for sign-off and effectively managing systemic elements of the buying process, ensuring 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
• To work with Buyer in setting and delivering the strategy for the department
• To develop strong working relationships with, and understanding of, external roles such as merchandising, technical, design, International as well as building networks across the wider structure
• Assist the International team to maximise M&S departmental sales during International Buying events

Key skills

• Relevant buying experience with a major retailer
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate junior members of the team and communicate with Global Sourcing Offices and influence internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of cost price negotiations and global sourcing
• Experience in developing a comprehensive product range including marketing and packaging which satisfies all customers’ future requirements
• Understanding of the concepts of brand strategy and 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
• Highly organised and self-motivated, accustomed to leading by example and taking the initiative
• Proactive in agreeing to take on Buyer responsibilities
• Role model for BAAs and strong interpersonal skills, capable of managing vertically and laterally
• Knowledge of materials used and understanding of material supply base
• A digital and global mind-set that supports the growth of international and online business

Key relationships and stakeholders

• Head of Buying
• Buying Lead, Buyers & Buying Admin Assistants
• Peer group
• Technical
• Sourcing Offices / Agents
• Suppliers
• Merchandising
• Design

Secondary relationships and stakeholders

• Ecom
• Press
• Marketing
• Packaging
• International
• Retail

What’s in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

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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