Junior Buyer, Sun & Swim

Department: Womenswear

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

DescriptionThe Buying team at River Island play a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique designs across all of our channels. This is achieved though effective range planning, awareness of key commercial data and customer trends, excellent supplier relations and internal networks, and execution of the Buying Strategy to deliver sales and profit plans.  The Junior Buyer agrees department strategy, and sources and builds a commercial product range aligned to deliver key targets. Through working collaboratively with Core Merchandising, Design and Technical teams, reviewing trading performance, and understanding customers, the Junior Buyer identifies key actions to achieve department margin targets and grow market share whilst maintaining our sustainability commitments. \n
Key Accountabilities: \nDeliver a highly commercial and well-balanced range for all channels through working closely with Design and Merchandising, nurturing supplier relationships and implementing the department strategy \nReview and take action to ensure Critical Path and development process is running smoothly to deliver product to customers at the right time \nThrough a solid and current understanding of our customers, the industry, and our competitors, including gaining insight through store visits and comp shops, propose initiatives and opportunities across all channels to drive sales and margin, including new product trials \nManages trading performance of their department/area alongside their Merchandising counterpart, ensuring they identify and react in a timely way to both risks and opportunities. \nSeek out opportunities for margin growth through understanding and exploring our processes, products components, souring methods and supplier base \nThrough strong supplier relationships, negotiate best deals and delivery to critical path \nStrong and clear management of the Critical Path and development process to ensure the timely delivery of product, building strong partnerships with Merchandising, Design and Technical counterparts to ensure they are all engaged at the right point in the CP  \nAt all stages, begin to incorporate an understanding of sustainable practices in sourcing, development and production to contribute to delivery of our sustainability commitments \nAt all stages, ensure that we uphold ethical trading standards, with a strong focus on partnering with and supporting suppliers to identify and address any risks to the relationship \nAt all stages, incorporate an understanding of technical, fabric and product compliance requirements, ensuring these are all delivered at the best possible cost within the critical path \nPlans sourcing strategy for own areas, either independently or with Senior Buyers support where relevant, that reduce costs and grows margin with consideration of all external factors \nSupports Technical team in fit sessions to ensure all quality and fit of all product is to River Island standards \nSupports all wholesale opportunities to drive performance \nCommunicating with cross divisional counterparts regarding supplier mix, cloth and trade info to gain insight to drive opportunities \nBuilds cross divisional working relationships and external networks \nSupports the team in the implementation of all company working practices and processes \nManages the development of the Junior members of the Buying team, supports in setting the direction and objectives to be achieved on the department \n \nKey experience required: \nAt least 18 months experience as an Assistant Buyer\nWomenswear experience at any Retailer is essential\nPrevious experience of buying, or have brought in within an area/ department \nExperience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable \nTrack record of delivering sales and margin targets is essential \nA supplier and industry network is essential \nTrack record of identifying and delivering on new product opportunities \nTrack record of either directly managing others, or supporting and mentoring other team members to create high levels of engagement and performance \n
\nJob role competencies: \nStrong commercial and analytical skills  \nStrong verbal and numerical reasoning skills    \nVery good negotiation skills \nStrong attention to detail and accuracy  \nHighly organised and proactive, good prioritisation skills \nStrong interpersonal skills and self-awareness \nGood management and development skills  \nBuilds and nurtures relationships with peers, highly collaborative \nCurious, continuous learning mindset \nDisciplined and conscientious, results oriented \nHighly resilient and adaptable with the ability to multitask  \nForward-thinking, innovative \nCoaching, mentoring mindset \nAbility to present own views and assert own views \nGood presentation skills \nPassion for the RI brand and customer  \n

About Us We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do.  Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.

This role is based at our Head Office in West London.