Buyer - Footwear

Our Buying team working closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Marketing, and the Brands themselves, helping plan and make decisions on the seasonal ranges for our stores and online.  They pride themselves on their product knowledge and commercial acumen.

• Job Title – Buyer - Footwear
• Location – JD Group, Hollinsbrook Way, Pilsworth, BL9 8RR
• Working rota – Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
• Working hours – 40 Hours 

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Representing the Buying function on relevant fascia and category
• Attending all appointments, with involvement in selection and editing of product
• Attending all product launches throughout the year as specified
• Attending all relevant trade shows
• Analysis and review of previous weeks sales with the merchandising department to propose and drive actions for the week ahead
• Negotiation with selected brands re trading terms and conditions.
• Being constantly aware of new brands and opportunities to diversify and drive department/category sales
• Budget negotiation and planning within internal teams and external brands
• Negotiation with brands re distribution agreements
• Working independently in a creative and trend led environment
• Managing budgets and OTB on in seasons and forward budgets
• Present ranges for sign off with Senior Buyers, Buying Director and Merchandising Director.
• Preparation and presentation of performance in trade meetings
• Proposals to assist driving sales in your relevant department

Core Competencies:

• Extensive knowledge of our store base and website
• Confidence within own decisions and product selection.  Comfortable in driving decisions on file and being accountable for all actions.
• Ability to act independently
• Extensive knowledge of product area and market
• Ability to look forward and predict trends both current and future
• Highly numerate and skilled within budget forecasting and planning

Skills/Experience/Knowledge needed:

• Experience of buying Sports Fashion is advantageous
• Experience of buying branded goods is essential
• Strong understanding and knowledge of current and upcoming sports fashion trends at a high street and premium level price point.
• Be able to exercise a high degree of analytical and numerical skills
• Fully literate in Microsoft Office: PowerPoint, Word, Excel
• Organisational skills are essential
• Be able to work under own initiative
• A creative and trend led individual

The Company:

The JD Group is a leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 60,000 colleagues over 3,400 stores across several retail fascia's in over 30 markets around the world.

We are an equal opportunities employer who embraces and values differences. We recognise the importance of an inclusive workplace culture in which everyone can thrive irrespective of their background or identity.

To be a part of this successful and continuously growing company, you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people first, a digital leader and customer focused organisation which provides operational excellence and is continuous with identifying new areas of growth into our day to day.

We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications

Interested?

If you interested in this position, then press the Apply Now button.

Due to the high volumes of applications our opportunities attract, it takes time to review them all. If you don't hear back within two weeks of you applying, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful on this occasion

Applications that meet the skills criteria will be contacted for a 1st stage meeting with the talent team. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview with the hiring manager.

Thank you again for your time.

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