Junior Buyer - Menswear Luxury Fashion - Department Stores - Dubai

Role Overview

Junior Buyer - Menswear Luxury Fashion for Bloomingdale's and Harvey Nichols department stores. Al Tayer Group, Dubai, UAE.

Company Overview

Bloomingdale's and Harvey Nichols set the benchmark for luxury fashion retail in the GCC. The stores are home to coveted designer labels and contemporary brands, offering an unparalleled shopping experience for discerning clientele.

Role Purpose

Source, curate, and manage menswear assortments across multiple luxury categories for department stores in the MENA region, working with emerging and contemporary brands to deliver trend-driven collections that inspire customers and drive sales performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Trend Analysis

• Develop detailed understanding of your department, market trends, and category landscape.
• Research and source industry trends and approach new brands or product areas to include within the portfolio.
• Create excellent trend presentations for senior management.
• Consolidate buying feedback reports and provide buyers with reports and recommendations per brand portfolio.

Product Development & Assortment

• Work closely with Buyer/line manager to define product strategy and collaborate with principal brands to execute via the right assortment.
• Incorporate store team and customer feedback to range build the assortment for your particular category.
• In conjunction with the Buyer, control the selection of merchandise for sales within agreed markdown and stock level targets.
• Assist the Buyer to research and select the best quality merchandise suppliers have to offer at the best price to maximize sales and profit margins.

Vendor & Supplier Management

• Maintain regular communication with suppliers as applicable.
• Place re-orders as applicable in consultation with buyers and 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.

Ordering & Inventory

• Assist with efficient ordering, delivery, and payment of merchandise to reduce the likelihood of queries and problems.

Reporting & Stakeholder Communication

• Regularly present and update VP Buying/Head of Buying along with the Buyer with performance insights and analysis.
• React quickly to feedback and requests from senior management.

Team Leadership & Development

• Assume responsibility for the outcomes of others.
• Promote a sense of urgency and establish and enforce individual accountability in the team.
• Work with people to establish explicit performance standards.
• Stay completely on top of what is going on and know where things stand.
• Provide balanced feedback at the most critical times.
• Proactively develop relationships with a wide variety of people.
• Build immediate rapport, even when facing difficult or tense situations.
• Understand interpersonal and group dynamics and react in an effective manner.

Decision-Making & Problem-Solving

• Make high-quality decisions decisively, even when based on incomplete information or in the face of uncertainty.
• Actively seek input from pertinent sources to make timely and well-informed decisions.
• Skillfully separate opinions from facts.
• Engage input from others constantly and listen with empathy and concern.
• Readily distinguish between what is relevant and what is unimportant to make sense of complex situations.
• Look beyond the obvious and do not stop at the first answers.
• Analyze multiple and diverse sources of information to define problems accurately before moving to solutions.

Communication & Influence

• Deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner.
• Articulate messages in a way that is broadly understandable.
• Adjust communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.
• Be respected by others for displaying superior judgment.

Professional Development

• Take consistent action to develop new skills.
• Find ways to apply strengths to new issues.
• Be aware of the skills needed to be successful in different situations and levels.
• Seek assignments that stretch beyond comfort zone.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Fashion or related field (beneficial).
• At least 2 to 3 years of Junior Buyer experience and expertise in multi-category luxury men's buying in department stores.
• At least 2 years of merchandising experience.
• Good knowledge and experience in the related industry through work experience with international principals.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong passion and natural sense for trends, taste, and aesthetics at a premium lifestyle level.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and brand management skills.
• Excellent English communication and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills to manage multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently.
• Agile mindset.
• Customer focus.
• Collaborative and timely decision-making.
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Information

• Keen to travel and develop a network of professional and business relationships.