Buyers Assistant - JD Sports at TFG (The Foschini Group)

Job Description

• The Buying Administrator II is responsible for administratively supporting all aspects of the buying process. This includes ensuring timeous placement of orders, maintaining a control system for the sample room, and compiling, balancing, and updating spreadsheets and reports. Additionally, the role involves maintaining quality assurance control, preparing for presentations, and building constructive relationships with suppliers.

Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:

Buying & Administrative Support

• Support all aspects of the buying process through efficient and accurate administration.
• Prepare for key meetings and presentations (Strategy, Range Reviews, Trade, VM, Marketing), including room bookings, printing, and collating documents.
• Take minutes and maintain clear, structured records.
• Perform general office administration and ad‑hoc tasks as required.

Order & Product Management

• Raise, load, and maintain orders in BuyPlan and PMM within required timelines.
• Manage the critical path to ensure on‑time approvals, deliveries, and product launches.
• Process order amendments and communicate updates to all stakeholders.
• Maintain product information, including images to be loaded onto buyplan and data accuracy across all systems.
• Conduct weekly follow‑ups with DCs and suppliers to confirm deliveries and booking status.
• Ensure marketed styles and campaigns launch according to agreed dates.
• Manage ITL ticket ordering.

Reporting & Documentation

• Create and update map sheets, product spreadsheets, and internal tracking documents.

Supplier & Cross‑Functional Liaison

• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with suppliers and brand partners.
• Gather product and order information required for system loading and approvals.
• Liaise across areas within the business, i.e marketing. 
• Conduct independent comp shops to support market and trend awareness.

Qualifications

• Matric; relevant certificate or diploma advantageous.
• Experience in buying administration within retail.
• Strong understanding of the retail buying cycle and product process.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of sportswear trends, sneaker culture, social media relevance, and e‑commerce environment.

Skills:

• Highly organised, detail‑oriented.
• Strong coordination and multitasking ability.
• Effective problem‑solving skills and resilience under pressure.
• Collaborative team player with strong communication skills

Behaviours: 

• Achieving Results - Is ‘results’ driven and achieves success by proactively tackling challenges 
• Commercial Thinking - Leverage’s market and business insights in the delivery of their work
• Continual Improvement - Actively seeks opportunities to continually improve processes 
• Meeting Customer Expectations - Consistently delivers exceptional customer service 
• Planning & Organising - Uses a structured approach to effectively manage tasks