Senior Buyer

Role Overview

Senior Buyer at Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle, responsible for sourcing and buying product ranges at optimum cost, quality and availability to meet customer needs, maximize profits, and provide commercially viable merchandise.

Role Purpose

Support the General Manager – Planning & Merchandising in defining and presenting short and long-term strategic approaches, identifying future growth opportunities and areas of risk for the business with regards to brand assortment, ranging, products, positioning, inventory and margins.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Formulate suitable buying strategy, approach and plan in line with Brand and MAF Lifestyle guidelines.
• Contribute to development of annual business plans, associated budgets and buying strategies.
• Monitor performance against plans, initiating corrective action where necessary to ensure operations are conducted within agreed financial parameters and targets are achieved.

Vendor Management & Procurement

• Direct and manage various functional aspects of vendor sourcing and development.
• Conduct contract negotiation and purchasing activities.
• Maintain profitable relationships with existing suppliers.
• Monitor adherence to all contractual terms.
• Negotiate product pricing, cost of shipment and payment terms with local vendors, taking into consideration business and cost effectiveness.

Product Range & Merchandising

• Ensure commercial yet profitable product ranges are developed and bought to maximize profit and sales.
• Ensure Open to Buy (OTB) is built up by store, category and subcategory.
• Manage and control all aspects of stock in conjunction with the General Manager to achieve reduced lost sales, improved buying and balanced product mix through careful and rigorous buying.

Financial Performance

• Achieve set financial targets in relation to all buying activities, OTB, margins, sell through and markdowns.

Supply Chain & Operations

• Liaise with supply chain and warehouse to ensure optimum efficiency and performance of the function.

Market & Customer Insights

• Stay abreast of customer trends, demographic shifts and other influences to ensure buying decisions closely relate to customer preferences contributing to the customer experience.
• Conduct fashion trends and product training of new launches and seasons to store teams as and when required.

Qualifications & Experience

• 4–5 years in a senior Merchandising role.
• Experience in a retail background is mandatory.
• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Fashion, Marketing or related field.
• Qualification in Retail Management, Purchasing, Sales or related subjects.