Assistant Buyer

Department:

MenswearEmployment Type:

Permanent - Full TimeLocation:

Head Office, Chelsea HouseDescription

The 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 through 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 Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer with trading, booking, fitting, range building, negotiation and supplier management, whilst ensuring the BAA team manages the critical path smoothly.Key Accountabilities

Support weekly trading reviews, updating and providing information to the Buying team as neededEnsure orders and invoices are accurately and efficiently processed by the BAAs, and new suppliers are onboardedEffective sample management, including labelling, working with suppliers (including Home Production where relevant), maintaining the development tracker and ensuring the correct samples are available to support meetingsSupporting in fit meetings ensuring BAA has prepped accordingly and inputting in the session, deputising in fits where appropriateCo-ordinating labelling and ticketing to a high standardMonitor and review Critical Path, responding to escalations of risks to reduce delays, and maintaining awareness of current lead timesAssist Buyer with cost negotiations and range buildingThrough a strong knowledge of competitors, key market trends, customers and channels, produce comp shops with recommendations, identifying opportunity and raising to buyerBuild a foundational understanding of sustainability and how it impacts the Buying choices that are madeBuild a foundational understanding of compliance considerations and impact to the critical path managementSeek out and positively respond to opportunities to step up and present in trade and department meetingsThrough a growing awareness of ethical trading practices, ensure that we partner well with our suppliers and behave in a consistently ethical way towards themManages the workload of the BAA with a thorough understanding of the BAA performance and escalating to Buyer where support is neededSets the direction and objectives for the BAA providing timely feedback and support to enable them to work to the best of their abilitiesWork cross functionally with Core Merchandising team for effective ways of working and collaboratively with other internal teams (Ecommerce, Wholesale, Visual Merchandising)Key experience required

Previous experience as an Assistant Buyer, or established Senior Buyer’s Admin Assistant is requiredExperience in an omni-channel business is highly desirableJob role competencies

Very good verbal and numerical reasoning skillsIntermediate MS Office skillsComputer literate and ability to learn new systems quicklyHighly organised and proactive, good prioritisation skillsCollaborative, with strong communication and interpersonal skillsVery good commercial and market awarenessDisciplined and conscientious, results orientedResilient and adaptable with the ability to multitaskCurious, continuous learning mindsetCoaching, mentoring mindsetAbility to present own views and assert own viewsTakes initiativeGood presentation skillsA keen interest in Product and the River Island brand is a mustAbout 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. Check us out here on a map.What we can offer you:Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on siteReducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through Reward GatewayA free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant and cafe to fill your needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the yearSupport for family setups, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fertility treatment. We also work with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all IslandersFlexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish FridaysGive as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched fundingSupport with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progressA generous bonus scheme and private pension plan25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays, with option to purchase additional holiday twice a yearKeeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values – including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk. Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.

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