Manager - Buying

The Manager Buying will be responsible for planning, selecting, and managing product ranges that align with the business objectives. You will need to demonstrate a strong commercial acumen and possess an eye for market trends to deliver a compelling product offering that drives sales, maximizes profitability, and meets customer expectations. Your key deliverables will include formulating quarterly product plans in alignment with business goals, preparing and presenting range selections to secure sign-off with the Head, managing product bookings to support launch plans and respond to in-season variables, and conducting in-depth analysis to inform and support buying decisions. You will also be responsible for monitoring and responding to sales performance, adjusting production plans in coordination with suppliers, setting and reviewing targets for sales, margins, stock levels, and availability, and participating in operating plan reviews to identify key learnings. Additionally, you will oversee catalogue planning, markdown strategies, and IRP completion, ensure timely alignment between production flows and business commitments, coordinate with suppliers to manage MSI capacity and production timelines, and provide necessary information to support retail layout planning. You will also contribute to the development of effective pricing strategies, stay updated on competitor product offerings and market trends, plan and optimize catalogue assortments tailored to specific store clusters or geographies, and support the implementation of new systems, tools, and process improvements. A key requirement for this role is the ownership of the department operating plan. You will be responsible for the selection and curation of products from the Marks & Spencer global catalogue, ensuring alignment with trends, volume drivers, and key focus areas. You will need to develop local product lines to address market gaps and margin opportunities, strategize product flow and phasing to align with the commercial calendar, and ensure product delivery adheres to the buying plan and critical path. Additionally, you will manage catalogue planning and execution, develop faster-turnaround products for in-season responsiveness, create value fashion lines suited for Tier 2 markets, collaborate with VM and Marketing to showcase seasonal looks and trends effectively, and drive product visibility and performance during peak trading periods, such as gifting seasons.,