Associate Buyer - Luxury Fashion

Job Purpose

• Plan, direct and control the area’s sales through its purchases of high quality merchandise at the most advantageous price, in order to meet and maintain merchandising standards and sales and profit objectives

Essential Roles & Responsibilities

• Maintain the return all faulty merchandise to the supplier with the accompanying red debit correctly made out to ensure the department receives a credit. Ensure that that all samples are returned to the supplier when no longer required as applicable.
• Enter the orders onto the system once the buyers returned from buying trip and ensure minimum discrepancies.
• Pay regular visits to warehouse to resolve any shipment discrepancies, delay, and liaise with the suppliers in case of any variance/damage to prompt immediate corrective action.
• Maintain regular communication with suppliers as applicable. Assist with the efficient ordering delivery and payment of merchandise to reduce the likelihood of queries and problems.
• To assist the Buyer to research and select from home and abroad, the best quality merchandise suppliers have to offer at the best price to maximise sales and profit margins. In conjunction with the Buyer to control the selection of merchandise for the Sales within the agreed markdown and to reach the agreed stock level.
• Place re-orders as applicable in consultation with buyers, communicate relevant information to all relevant parties in planning, and supply chain.
• Maintain accurate database of vendor agreements and forward completed vendor agreements to Merchandise Planning.
• Assist sales staff and management with customer service by placing special orders and providing information on stock availability and product knowledge.
• Consolidate buying feedback reports and provide buyers with reports and recommendations per brand portfolio

People Management Roles and Responsibilities

• Assumes responsibility for the outcomes of others. Promotes a sense of urgency and establishes and enforces individual accountability in the team. Works with people to establish explicit performance standards.
• Proactively develops relationships with a wide variety of people. Builds immediate rapport, even when facing difficult or tense situations. Understands interpersonal and group dynamics and reacts in an effective manner. Engages input from others constantly and listens with empathy and concern.
• Readily distinguishes between what is relevant and what is unimportant to make sense of complex situations. Looks beyond the obvious and does not stop at the first answers. Analyzes multiple and diverse sources of information to define problems accurately before moving to solutions.
• Delivers messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Articulates messages in a way that is broadly understandable. Adjusts communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.

Job Requirements

• Bachelors/High School in any discipline followed by qualification in Retailing or Retail Management/ Purchase/ Sales or related programs
• Good knowledge and experience in the (related) industry through work experience with international principals.
• Buying experience and expertise typically gained over a period of at least 3 - 5 years
• Excellent planning, financial, communication and interpersonal skills. Proficient English (Arabic preferred). Keen to travel & develop network of professional & business relationships