Senior Buying Admin Assistant
ABOUT US
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, Amarni, Gymshark and The White Company, to name just a few!
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Senior Buying Administration Assistant will support the luxury menswear department stores team by providing administrative support and contributing to the Buying process. This will be a key role to support the Buying team drive the performance against sales and margin targets, maximizing in-season opportunities and affecting future inventory.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
Role Overview:
- Generally, use their understanding of the Buying cycle to anticipate administrative needs and support the Buying team in their daily and weekly tasks.
- Run periodic reports to share with Buyers/stores/vendors
- Support with the creation of product buy books
- Regularly run competitor price analysis, shopping reports/benchmarking, and feeding back to Buyer
- Ensure products are being uploaded by digital channels upon delivery, and regularly monitoring the accuracy of copy, product descriptions & imagery
- Leading the organization of seasonal product training for stores
- Ensure all necessary records, master files and databases are maintained accurately and updated in a timely manner
- Support with creation of enrichment files for PO Raising (including UDAs, HS codes, COO, etc)
- Oversee and maintain the product hierarchy, ensuring product data is accurate and consistent
- Ensure all Order Confirmation details are received and checked in a timely manor, querying discrepancies with vendors and initiating any changes (aligning with Buyer direction)
- Anticipate open delivery windows and work with MAA to chase in ready stock.
- Feedback to Buyers on delivery issues and initiate negotiations with suppliers (ie late delivery discounts, cancellations, RTVs etc).
- Timely management of return to vendor requests (RTV's), ensuring effective communication to suppliers, and a well-organised process from initial pack-up to credit note issuance.
- Requesting in and following up with vendors on store-related inquiries eg customer special orders, product damages etc.
Department Specific:
- Support with creation of seasonal trend presentations
- Support with creation of EOS ST reports, adding relevant imagery
- Support with creation of Pre-Buy Agenda Templates
- Support with market calendar scheduling by calling in showing dates & locations
- Manage and track supplier incentive schemes
About You
You will need to have the following qualification, skills and experience to be successful for the role:
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- Minimum 2 years of buying merchandise / planning experience in fashion/luxury retail.
- Strong understanding of Merchandising financials.
- Advanced computer skills in Excel and MS Office.
- Numerate with strong analytical skills and financial acumen
- Excellent communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Aptitude to function within deadlines, while working both independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to recognize, analyse and quantify market trends.
- Ability to work independently and proactively, with excellent attention to detail
- Able to successfully manage and execute priorities in a timely manner within a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Demonstrate ability to build and foster productive working relationships with cross-functional teams and vendors
- Proficient in the English language
- Product / brand orientation with good knowledge of fashion industry and benchmarks is a Must.
- Stakeholder management skills to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and counterparts.
- Commercial skills with the ability to identify opportunities and potential business risks.
- Possesses a proactive and adaptable approach to work.
- Enthusiastic about the retail industry and keen to further develop buying skills.
- Individual Accountability and strong interpersonal skills.
- Result Driven and ability to manage the entire menswear department stores.
