Buying Director – Department Stores

About Us

We are looking for an exceptional Buying Director to lead our ever-growing Al Tayer Insignia Department Store Division team. You will play an integral part in the growth of one of the region’s leading luxury and fashion companies, Al Tayer Insignia.

As a leader in luxury retail in the Middle East, Al Tayer Group's retail division, Al Tayer Insignia, hosts a portfolio of some of the world’s best luxury brands in the fashion, jewellery, home, and department store categories. Complementing its position in luxury retail, Al Tayer Insignia has also built new frontiers in lifestyle retail, representing leading brands in the Beauty, Home, Fashion and Hospitality sectors. Our brands include Bloomingdales, Harvey Nichols, Armani and newly added Gym Shark and The White Company, to name just a few!

About The Role

Reporting directly to the VP of Buying, this role is key to developing and executing product strategies that drive growth across both physical and digital channels.

The Buying Director, Department Stores, is responsible for developing and executing innovative product strategies that drive sales and margin growth across both physical and digital channels. Reporting directly to the VP of Buying, this role ensures the delivery of exciting, profitable, and customer-focused product assortments that reflect market trends and evolving consumer needs. The Buying Director leads and mentors a high-performing team, working closely with cross-functional departments to deliver a best-in-class product offering. With a strong focus on profitability and long-term growth, this role is critical in shaping the future of the department store division by keeping the customer at the heart of every decision and staying ahead of emerging market trends.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Define and execute the overall product strategy for the department store division.

Optimize product assortments across all channels to deliver a best-in-class customer offering.

Play a key role in business development, including new brand acquisition and category expansion.

Spearhead buying strategy for new store projects in line with company growth plans.

Buying & Merchandising Excellence

Oversee the product lifecycle from planning to sell-through.

Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and ensure strong financial control.

Use data and insights to drive product decisions and mitigate risk.

Lead seasonal buy sign-offs and align with merchandising leadership on strategy and performance.

Cross-functional Collaboration

Partner with planning, marketing, commercial, and customer experience teams to amplify brand presence and customer engagement.

Lead the creation and execution of seasonal pop-ups and events.

Support VP Buying in brand relationships and strategic presentations.

Team Leadership

Lead and inspire a high-performing buying team.

Mentor and develop team members for growth and succession.

Shape the team structure as the business evolves.