Buyer (Beauty)

·       Full commercial responsibility for assigned beauty categories. Develops and executes buying strategies that optimize brand mix, product assortment, and inventory flow to meet customer demand while maximizing sales, margin, and profitability.

·       Responsible for managing relationships with brands and suppliers, overseeing contracts, planning replenishments, and collaborating closely with marketing, visual merchandising, and retail teams to deliver an exceptional shopping experience. The Buyer is a key driver of Beauty Transformation projects, exclusive brand partnerships, and e-commerce growth, ensuring that Galeries Lafayette maintains market leadership through differentiation, innovation, and excellence in execution.

·       Develop and implement category-specific buying strategies aligned with Galeries Lafayette’s brand positioning and customer profile.

·       Manage direct buys, consignment, and concession models across assigned categories. Select, source, and procure beauty products from local and international suppliers, ensuring trend relevance, quality, and commercial viability.

·       Plan and execute replenishments when needed to maintain optimal stock levels, avoid stockouts, and respond to sales trends. Complete and regularly update international market appraisals to benchmark Qatar pricing against key international markets.

·       Conduct regular reviews of the competitive landscape to identify relevant new brands, trends, and designers.

·       Source, select, and onboard beauty brands and product assortments based on market trends, customer demand, and exclusivity potential. Build a differentiated Beauty portfolio by sourcing exclusive and high-demand brands across Fragrance, Makeup, and Skincare. Secure exclusive launches and limited-edition products in partnership with key brands.

·       Negotiate commercial terms, including pricing, discounts, payment terms, and shipping/Incoterms. Oversee consignment and concession contracts, ensuring compliance, timely renewals, and accurate tracking of performance KPIs.

·       Build and maintain strong relationships with brands, distributors, and suppliers. Complete agreements for all existing suppliers within agreed timelines. Ensure all new suppliers are fully onboarded with complete, signed agreements prior to trading.

·       Deliver full 360° activation plans for new brand launches and novelties across in-store, digital, and social media channels. Lead planning, communication, and negotiation with brands and stakeholders to meet launch timelines and commercial objectives. Oversee execution of launch activations including events, masterclasses, GWP campaigns, and brand takeovers. Conduct post-launch and post-event analysis covering revenue, conversion rate, KPIs, and execution timelines

·       For Major Projects & Transformation:

o   Lead and ensure on-time delivery of major Beauty Transformation projects, including: Niche Extension, Beauty Edit, Beauty Hive, Beauty Extension, Brand Counters, and Skincare expansions.

o   Drive structured project execution with clear objectives, milestones, timelines, and accountability. Foster close collaboration and communication with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners to deliver projects with excellence and precision.

·       For E-commerce Development:

o   Build and scale a strong Beauty e-commerce business in collaboration with the E-commerce team. Ensure onboarding of all offline Beauty brands onto the e-commerce platform.

o   Negotiate e-commerce clauses within supplier agreements and develop exclusive online assortments, bundles, or kits. Drive e-commerce sales through targeted digital activations such as Beauty Month campaigns, virtual masterclasses, GWP offers, and exclusive launches.

·       For Vendor Management:

o   Manage vendor expectations and relationships through regular performance meetings, timely communication, and brand principle visits. Conduct quarterly vendor and brand performance reviews. Work with vendors to develop exclusive products, bundles, and strategies aligned with in-store and e-commerce goals. Maintain structured follow-ups and documentation through formal communication channels.

·       Conduct performance reviews against set objectives, ensuring team members have clear Personal Development Plans to achieve goals, while supporting their growth and enhancing their value to the organization. · Assess team capabilities and reassign roles and responsibilities based on individual strengths and business needs. Develop the Beauty team through training, coaching, and performance management. Train the team to analyze sales data and apply insights to buying and planning decisions. Delegate responsibilities clearly for Beauty Month and key commercial activations. Conduct weekly team meetings to review sales performance, KPIs, and strategic priorities.

JOB REQUIREMENT

·       Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.

·       Additional certification in buying, merchandising, or retail analytics is a plus.

·       5+ years of experience in a retail buying, merchandising, planning, or product coordination role.  Experience in Beauty within a department store or multi-brand environment is preferred. Experience in Luxury. Hands-on experience with purchase orders, inventory tracking, and sales analysis is an advantage.

·       Awareness of GCC/Middle East market dynamics is an advantage. A deep interest in Beauty, Art and Culture. Passion and knowledge of the managed product category.

·       Fluent in English. Additional Languages are a plus. Strong proficiency in Excel.

·       Strong commercial and analytical mindset with experience in negotiating terms, analyzing data, and optimizing margin and stock turnover.

·       Excellent knowledge of beauty trends, consumer behavior, and the regional beauty market. · Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Highly organized, able to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously.