Associate Buyer, Disney Store

We have an permanent opportunity to join our talented Disney Store Buying team - managing ranges across all our brands and characters.

You will likely be currently working at Junior or Associate Buyer level, with online and store experience and have ideally managed your own product area in a softlines or hardlines category.

This role will be based 4 days a week in our Hammersmith office, with one day working from home.

Under the leadership of the Buyer, this role will lead the team, and drive assortment strategy across all Disney brands. Curate the global range to meet financial goals of the regional channels. Position the assortment across consumer demography capturing new audiences and drive incremental growth. Ensure regional commercialisation of the assortment.

Areas of Responsibility

Pre-season

• Develop and execute a merchandise assortment strategy for assigned categories of business that support the sales volume and margin goals of the department,
• Maintain awareness and understanding of market competitors and identify growth opportunities for relevant categories,
• Build assortment strategies for defined categories and present quarterly assortment strategies to cross-functional partners,
• Partner with planning to maximise margin rate and manage product life cycle,
• Align with planning team on rankings, retails, and buys,
• Evaluate licensed opportunities and enable new brands as needed – operating within all legal and compliance parameters,
• Ensure establishment of the range plan and item set-up required to write purchase orders.

Commercial Strategy and Integration

• Build relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the product strategy of the department is successfully executed,
• Select seasonal and weekly product marketing features for e-commerce messaging in assigned category,
• With the Buying Administrator, assist in managing production and photo sample process along with the e-commerce turnover process. Provide recommendations for lifestyle photoshoot needs and secure images and copy points from vendors that support brand digital strategy,
• Partner with site merchandising to ensure assortment discovery. Proof site assets and product pages.

In Season

• Provide updated sales reporting and business trends to key stakeholders,
• Present Best Seller and Hindsight Meeting reports. Analyse, recap and communicate business trends (quarterly hindsight), with the planning team,
• Manage and ensure accuracy of the range plan assortment,
• Track delivery of all category POs with the production team and the support of the Buying Administrator. Escalate shipment issues in a timely manner. Manage vendor set up as necessary,
• Secure marketing and mark down funding and negotiate return to vendor (RTV) as needed,
• Approve POs within permitted levels, adhering to all necessary process.

Management

• Manage and mentor direct report, ensuring regular objectives are set and reviewed and feedback is given,

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable to the Buyer in the delivery of all related responsibilities,
• Accountability for developing and executing a merchandise assortment strategy for apparel and brands across all consumer segmentations and channels,
• Accountable for maintaining range plans and for ensuring POs are accurate and approved on-time,
• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally,
• Accountable for operating within all legal and compliance parameters,
• Accountable for developing and managing direct report.

Experience Required

• Experience in a same level role within buying, merchandising, product development, and/or sourcing,
• Team management experience,
• Demonstrates understanding of brand and brand portfolio positioning,
• Experience building and maintaining strong relationships at all levels, managing stakeholders effectively within a large, multi-national, matrix organisation.

Skills Required

• Strong communicator with excellent presentation skills,
• Adept in managing and developing direct reports and delivering multiple assignments and deadlines through a team,
• Strategic approach with strong financial aptitude,
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of global markets.

Additional Information

• Flexibility for frequent UK, European or international travel may be required,
• Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires,
• Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs.