Buying Manager - Infants at Ackermans

Purpose of position:

• Are you passionate about babies and the latest trends in infant fashion? We’re looking for a Buying Manager to lead the charge in curating the most stylish, comfortable, and durable high-quality products for little ones. Help us deliver a thoughtful, exciting, and affordable shopping experience to parents everywhere—while shaping the future of baby retail!"
• Reporting to the Buying Executive Kids, you will contribute towards the development and implementation of an effective and efficient buying strategy for your portfolio, lead a team of professional Buyers, engage with cross-functional teams and key business stakeholders, and deliver a superb value proposition for our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy Development: In partnership with the Executive, develop and execute a comprehensive product portfolio strategy aligned with the company's objectives, ensuring consistency and relevance across the product lifecycle, handwriting and execution.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal teams, including Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Supply Chain, to ensure alignment and consistency in execution.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish relevant KPIs to measure and monitor product      performance in terms of sales, inflows, margins, GP rands and optimising strategies, based on data-driven insights.
• Systems: Utilise relevant buying systems to support and enable performance.
• Leadership: Effectively lead the buying team for the relevant portfolio.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
• Knowledge of specific company buying strategies 
• Understanding of retail business systems and related processes – IT
• A comprehensive knowledge/understanding of SA’s retail clothing market, customers, and competitors.
• An understanding of relevant trends with a flair/eye for product for the relevant target market.
• Relevant product knowledge with regards to styling constructions
• An understanding of product components
• Awareness of relevant legal and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and mitigate risks
• Understanding of crisis management principles and practices to anticipate and mitigate potential brand crises, as well as to respond effectively in the event of a crisis to protect the brand's reputation

Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation
• Strategic thinking and analytical abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision - making
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities and market conditions
• Strong leadership skills to inspire and guide the buying team, fostering cross functional collaboration and driving results
• A commercial mindset to develop innovative and impactful product strategies
• Experience in managing budgets effectively, allocating resources to maximise ROI
• Continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and differentiation, to maintain a competitive edge

Qualification:

• A relevant degree/qualification in Fashion/Textile Design/Clothing Production/Product Development/Merchandising, or related field

Experience:

• Proven experience of 2-5 years in a retail buying management capacity (preferably in the baby or kids’ category)
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Strong negotiation skills with suppliers to secure competitive pricing and favorable terms.
• CFE experience essential
• Extensive travel required