Buyer, Womenswear Brands RTW and Buyer, Womens Handbags and Accessories

We have two high-profile opportunities for experienced Buyers to join our Womens Fashion team, focusing on either Womenswear Brands RTW or Handbags & Accessories.

As a Buyer at John Lewis, you aren't just selecting products; you are a curator of style for the UK’s most trusted department store. You will lead the strategy for our premium and designer portfolios, identifying "the next big thing" while maintaining the quality and trust our customers expect. This is a fast-paced, omnichannel role where your commercial decisions directly impact the success of the Partnership.

At a glance:

• Contract type - Both positions are permanent

• Expected Salary - Salary up to £65,000.00 per annum based on skill and experience 

• Working pattern/flexible working - This is a hybrid working role. The normal place of work for this role is our London Central Office in Pimlico. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as team collaboration is critical in this role - core days will vary across teams

• Location - This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office

Key responsibilities:

• Curate and develop a strong brand edit that will delight and excite our customer

• Own full buying process including selecting product, entering orders and all post appointment changes or edits

• Research, prepare and present product ranges to the Buying Manager considering sales history, fashion trends, product seasonality, store distribution and brand adjacencies

• Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, minimum guarantees, marketing budgets and exclusivity

• Develop a compelling brand edit that excites the John Lewis customer. Lead on product development and manage the critical path for exclusive collections

• Own and manage the performance of your brand portfolio through regular in season trade meetings with brand partners and analysis of their performance, making strategic recommendations to buying and merch managers

• Work closely with Merchandiser to propose Balance To Achieve across commercial KPIs for all brands on a monthly basis

• Liaise and work closely with internal teams including Digital, Marketing, Retail Operations, Supplier Management, to ensure effective brand onboarding, launch and execution of the buying vision

• Regularly monitor the market and identify new trends and commercial opportunities

• Lead and mentor junior buying team

Essential skills/experience you’ll need:

• Proven experience at Buyer level with a focus on premium and contemporary womenswear/accessories 

• Established network of brand contacts with an ability to seek out and forge new relationships

• Experience working in omnichannel retail environments, with a strong understanding of bricks and mortar department store dynamics

• Knowledge of various business models in particular wholesale, but also SOR/concession, and direct to consumer

• Strong understanding of product trends, market insights, and customer preferences, coupled with a keen eye for style. Must have the ability to identify and anticipate emerging trends and viral moments

• Positive attitude, solutions driven mindset, openness to new ways of working and an ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure

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We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.