Category Assistant, Fashion

At a glance:

• Salary range - The budgeted salary range for this role is set at £25,000- £32,500

• Contract type - We have several positions available within the team on a permanent and fixed term contract / secondment basis

• Working pattern/flexible working - We know flexible working is important to you, and it is important to us too. The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The buying team aims for at least 2 days a week in the office.

• Location - This role is based at our Victoria Head Office campus. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is no travel allowance for this role.

About the role:

• The roles we are recruiting for are within Fashion

• As a Category Assistant (Buying Assistant) within John Lewis, you will be responsible for managing the critical path and interacting with multiple teams to drive this from idea to launch. You will be a process expert supporting end to end buying tasks including range building, marketing briefs and range plan processes. You will take pride in executing work in a timely, accurate manner and you will be able to flex to the ebb and flow of seasonal demands, including supporting more than one category area as and when required.

• The role also involves tracking the product development cycle and production timelines in own branded areas, sample and packaging management, supporting pricing & promotional activities, nominating for seasonal marketing campaigns and completing competitor and last season analysis for assortment reviews.

• As a Partner, you will have an active say in the way we operate, performing daily analysis around key operational areas and proposing actions to support Trading activity.

• To achieve this, you will need to build strong relationships with key collaborators. As part of a matrix team, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the Buyer, Merchandiser, Product Launch Operations, Design, Sourcing and Marketing as well as external suppliers, helping you to gain the broadest experience possible.

Key responsibilities:

• You will set up and manage the critical path for your assigned CPG areas by collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure the product is developed on time.

• You will be responsible for completing marketing/online nomination templates with hero products and trends put forward by your CPG team.

• You will be responsible for coordinating with Suppliers and internal teams to deliver digital assets and samples required for marketing activities/events online and in branches.

• You will complete market, competitor and assortment analysis, working with suppliers and internal teams to collate samples for range building and assortment reviews.

• You will be responsible for executing administrative tasks to support packaging development where required.

• You will be responsible for executing administrative tasks to support pricing activities.

• You will be responsible for making sure any delays/issues are reported to your CPG Team appropriately and immediately.

• You will understand supplier performance and propose appropriate actions to tackle underperformance .

• You will build strong relationships with key collaborators.

Essential skills you’ll need:

• Previous experience working in buying - this also includes work experience/shadowing.

• Great organisational skills, with the ability to manage processes to SLAs, and excellent time management and prioritisation

• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to build both internal and external relationships.

• Strong commercial awareness and understanding.

• Experience of working with range plans, critical paths, assortment review and marketing nomination processes.

• Experience of using Google Suite and Excel.

You can view a copy of the full job outline here (internal only) JD

Benefits of the Partnership and the role:

• • Hybrid Working.

• ️ - Full - time working holiday entitlement 22 days holiday, plus public and bank holidays (this is pro-rated for part time hours).

• • - Excellent work life balance, including focus on well being and flexible working and our marketing leading equal parenthood leave Policy
• • Defined Contribution pension scheme where your contributions will be matched by the Partnership (up to 8% of pay) and, after three years’ service, you’ll receive an additional Partnership contribution of 4% of pay, regardless of whether you pay in or not
• • You’ll get Partnership discount in store and online once you complete your Earning Membership period. That’s 25% off in John Lewis (12% off electrical products, some exclusions apply) and 20% in Waitrose (some exclusions apply) You’ll also be able to nominate someone you live with to share your discount.
• • Simple cycle to work support scheme
• • We’re really proud of our exclusive hotels based in some of Britain’s most beautiful areas and once you’ve been with us for three months, you’re welcome to explore them

• - Learn more about our extensive range of exciting benefits that you could enjoy when you join us, visit - https://www.jlpjobs.com/about/benefits/

Next Steps:

• The application form consists of a CV upload followed by application questions. Please ensure you refresh the page each time you complete a task to ensure you complete everything that you need to in time. (If internal, check your Workday notifications and see further guidance on the PDW under "Internal application process").

• Once you've submitted an application the next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include a 1 stage virtual interview (wk comm 8th January)

• You'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll be sure to discuss it with you.

• Thanks for your patience in the meantime and for showing an interest in joining JLP.

• We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we recommend you apply early