Buyer

The Buyer is responsible for the Buying of at least 1 or 2 departments of the Fashion Division. He/She is also responsible for all commercial activities (suppliers, products and stocks) within his portfolio. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Maintain and manage vendors database in the most commercial way ensuring that the absolute number of active vendors will deliver the highest commercial value to the organization.
• Negotiate terms with vendors and look to constantly improve the season's collections to improve gross margin.
• Manage the buying activities, creating the buying plan and select brands and products that meet agreed criteria and strategic vision of the division.
• Ensure all articles are set up accurately and POs communicated to vendor’s on-time and within agreed OTB parameters.
• Ensure that all records and files are kept in an organized and efficient way to ensure business continuity at all times.
• Ensure reporting tools are always refreshed allowing for easy continues interrogation of business performance.
• Hold regular management meetings with key stakeholders to ensure that commercial information is communicated to the relevant parties to allow for optimum performance.
• Monitor stock and sell thru rates to ensure that business objectives are being adhered too and product targets are achieves.
• Ensure all buys confirm to the agreed OTB parameters set by Head of Buying and Merchandise Planning Manager.
• Ensure buys are made on time, are set up accurately and communicated to suppliers in a timely fashion.
• Manage gross margin in line with agreed budgets.
• Ensure all communication between the supplier/brand is clear, concise and on time to ensure that the commercial deadlines are met.
• Ensure all buys conform to the agreed OTB parameters set with supplier.
• Liaise with ABA Legal Department to ensure that all Own Buy and commercial contracts are approved in timely fashion and conform to ABA terms of business.
• Manage the agreed supplier timescale for order placement and delivery into store. This is very important to overall availability.
• Liaise between Architects and brands/supplier to ensure that all new shop in shop and brand fixtures are approved and installed to the agreed schedule and to the agreed ABA standard.
• Monitor progress of all deliveries to ensure that new collections are delivered as requested and agreed.
• Liaise with warehouse and logistics to ensure that goods are receipted as per agreements and can flow through to the shop floor.
• Liaise with the administration team to ensure price changes and any promotion activity is put through the system and agreed with brands accordingly.

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or any related field.
• 5 years of experience in a Buying position with preferably fashion retail experience.
• Experience in Premium/Luxury Fashion.
• Organized with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills, preferably with French speaking background.
• Good knowledge on Arabic culture, market and local fashion trends would be useful.
• Demonstrable customer relations management skills.