Men’s Senior Buyer at Cape Union Mart

Job Description

• An opportunity has become available in our Outdoor Clothing Department for a resilient, innovative and resourceful Senior Buyer. The role requires someone who is able to travel and work with our local and international factories to build and procure ranges for the Men’s K-WAY apparel department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage critical path for internal reviews and manufacturing (local and international).
• Manage OTB by trading successful styles, discontinuing and negotiating non-performing styles.
• Execute ranges in alignment with strategy and range science.
• Apply value engineering across categories.
• Present confidently to peers and leaders.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, pricing, and deliveries.
• Collaborate effectively with relevant stakeholders and departments, driving cross-functional alignment.
• Oversee product quality, fit, and seal process.
• Manage and guide a Buyer’s Assistant.
• Attend tradeshows and conferences to stay abreast of industry trends.
• Handle general buying administrative functions.

Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications Required

• Grade 12 certificate and a relevant tertiary qualification.
• Driver’s license.
• Minimum 5 years’ retail merchandise buying experience.
• At least 2 years’ buying experience in product development.
• In-depth knowledge of the retail product life cycle, buying principles, and critical path.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages.
• RMS and PLM experience will be an advantage.

Job-Related Competencies

• Passion for technical product and the outdoor lifestyle.
• Ability to adapt trends to different target markets.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Trend analysis and interpretation ability.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Strong trader mentality.
• Proven strategic thinking capability.
• Relationship-building skills across all levels and functions.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent organizing, planning, and time management skills.
• Agility and resilience to maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure.