Assistant Buyer

THE OPPORTUNITY

We have two exciting opportunities to join our Buying team as Assistant Buyers, working across our global Katie Loxton and Joma Jewellery brands.

As an Assistant Buyer, you will provide essential support to the Senior Buying team through proactively driving our processes and identifying efficiencies. You will take pride in coaching and mentoring our Buying Admin Assistants to ensure accuracy, aiding their continued development.

You will make an impact by supporting the team to reach goals in line with the critical path whilst effectively communicating across various internal departments and external suppliers. You will be a key player within the team to continuously ensure critical Buying data is up to date and ready for use. If stakeholders have buying related queries, you will be the person on speed dial.

We are looking for someone who has excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and is comfortable using their own initiative to meet goals and deadlines. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate great market awareness, have a flare for product and a keen eye for emerging trends and on brand product.

If you are an experienced Senior Buying Admin Assistant or Assistant Buyer looking for a new challenge within a faced-paced retailer, who thrives on problem solving in an ever-changing, innovative environment, this may be the perfect position for you!

The role is Monday - Friday 9am-5pm. You'll enjoy the exciting buzz of our friendly office in Banbury, Oxfordshire 3 times a week on average, this may flex up or down dependent on business needs,

BEHIND THE BRANDS

We’re a family-run, entrepreneurial company with an exciting pace of life and a bright and friendly team. We are passionate about creating stunning products with a personal touch and innovating our business behind the scenes. We value creativity, collaboration and integrity.

HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE

• Identifying opportunities and proposing creative ideas and product suggestions for new collections.
• Assisting the Buyer in collating all quotes for new season designs from suppliers, alongside working closely with Buyer on cost negotiations
• Working closely with the Buyer to ensure pricing calculations are accurate and company target margins are being met
• Overseeing accurate completion of key buying documents, i.e. product handover, pricing calculations, etc.
• Assisting in maintaining option plan documents, ensuring option counts are met
• Working closely with the Buyer to effectively coordinate key buying data on time and to schedule, ensuring a smooth and clear handover of new collections to other departments
• Mentoring our Buying Admin Assistants, inspiring and developing them through giving guidance and support
• Helping to implement and suggest new processes within the team, to aid continuous improvement
• Manging your own time and diary alongside making sure the team is working to key critical dates alongside the buying and company critical paths
• Overseeing sample management and organisation of the product development room; liaising with the Buyer and design team to ensure the samples are received on time and approved in line with critical path requirements
• Assisting in product development, seeing the products through from design to launch
• Using and understanding sales reports to make informed, commercial decisions and sharing findings with the team
• Understanding and ensuring product regulations are met and complaint, to be sold in various markets
• Working with Buying, Product Design and Merchandising teams to ensure critical dates are met and product is approved for Mass Production, chasing suppliers for approvals, swatches, trims and other product components where required
• Building strong working relationships with Product teams, Purchasing and Merchandising to ensure business standards are correctly followed
• Building excellent relationships with our current supply base, so that issues such as cost, quality and standards can be managed effectively
• Understanding both B2B and B2C platforms and assisting in ensuring products meet both needs
• Coordinating regular competitor reports, supporting the Senior Buyer to review and share findings
• Undertaking projects as allocated to support the business strategy and personal development

THE TALENT YOU'LL BRING

• Proven experience within an established Buying department
• Strong organizational & problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and initiative
• Well organized and process minded
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication & relationship building skills
• Ability to mentor and support Buying Admin Assistants
• You are someone who brings positivity to the team and possesses a can-do attitude and ability to persevere through challenges and setbacks
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Suite
• Intermediate level of Microsoft Excel knowledge

PERFECTLY PACKAGED

• A salary of £25,000 - £30,000 DOE
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 with length of service, plus bank holiday
• A broad benefits package including our staff favourite – a very generous staff discount across both our brands. See all of our benefits on our careers portal
• Opportunities to make an impact as well as learn and develop further
• An innovative and friendly workplace with a team we’re proud to be part of. Find out more about us and our culture on our careers portal

Joma Jewellery was founded in 2008 by Katie and Geoff Loxton, since then we have gone from strength to strength, launching Katie Loxton in 2015 and growing our business beyond the UK. We know that part of that growth comes from the fact that we take diversity and inclusion very seriously. We strive to be the best in our field, and we know that happens by hiring a diverse team and encouraging everyone to be their authentic selves when working with us. We don’t hire based on cultures, preferences, or personalities – it’s what you bring to the team that counts.

We are always striving to improve our way of working to be more inclusive, diverse and equal, including encouraging all team members to bring their ideas to the table as we know this is key to our continued success.