<dt class="rm-fieldTitle">Description</dt><dd class="rm-fieldData"><p><strong><span class="">Footwear Buyer | Established - Senior | Circa £55,000 + Benefits | Manchester </span></strong></p><p class=""><em class="">Fuel your passion for footwear in a fast-paced, brand-driven buying environment.</em></p><h4 class=""><span class="">What You'll Be Doing</span></h4><p class="">As a Branded Footwear Buyer, you'll be the driving force behind building and delivering compelling, commercial, and trend-led branded footwear ranges. You live and breathe footwear, understand the nuances of branded assortments, and know how to turn data into sell-out collections. From strategy to store floor, you're all about creating the perfect line-up for our customers-across all channels.</p><h4 class=""><span class="">Your Key Missions as the Buyer:</span></h4><p class=""><span class="">Planning &amp; Strategy</span></p><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Lead the seasonal strategy for your category-collaborating closely with the Head of Buying and Trading Manager</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Present your vision to the Buying &amp; Merchandising Director with confidence, aligning to our wider commercial goals</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Analyse seasonal performance and market trends to inform data-led, customer-first decisions</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Ensure ranges are tailored to store footprint, fascia, and channel needs, driving sell-through and limiting markdowns</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Understand the branded landscape: from positioning and pricing to product mix and target customer</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Use customer insight and trend forecasting to shape future range builds and category direction</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Collaborate with Merchandising to produce detailed seasonal sign-off packs with clear sales and margin targets</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Identify new commercial opportunities to grow market share and keep us ahead of the curve</p></li></ul><p class=""><span class="">Range Creation &amp; Execution</span></p><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Curate standout, brand-led assortments that speak directly to our customer profiles</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Champion the critical path-ensuring range selections are delivered on time and with impact</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Attend buying appointments, trade shows and brand meetings with a clear plan and purpose</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Work with brands to develop exclusive or collaborative products that give us a point of difference</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Build seasonal "go-to-market" strategies across store and online</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Secure funding and support from brands to deliver meaningful marketing activations and in-store/online campaigns</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Feed into VM and space planning to ensure premium presentation of your range</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Partner with marketing teams to drive footfall and customer engagement with the right product, in the right place, at the right time</p></li></ul><p class=""><span class="">Trading &amp; Performance</span></p><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Monitor weekly KPIs and performance metrics to flag risks and opportunities</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Drive in-season trading activity-including pricing, stock movement and marketing pushes</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Contribute to weekly trading meetings and write monthly reports to inform future decisions</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Work closely with Merchandising to ensure stock turns are optimised and profit is maximised</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Regularly visit stores to assess product performance, presentation and local opportunities</p></li></ul><p class=""><span class="">Partnerships &amp; Commercial Negotiation</span></p><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Manage and build strong supplier relationships to drive value beyond just product</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Negotiate commercial terms-think payment terms, returns, marketing support and margin improvements</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Monitor supplier SLAs and ensure brand partners deliver against expectations</p></li></ul><p class=""><span class="">Leadership &amp; Collaboration</span></p><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Lead by example, promote collaboration across departments and champion a positive culture</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Coach and support junior team members through regular feedback and development planning</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Share best practices and contribute to a "right first time" mindset across the team</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Encourage innovation and learnings to shape smarter buying practices</p></li></ul><h3 class=""><span class="">What We're Looking For </span></h3><ul class=""><li class=""><p class="">Proven experience in a branded buying role-<span class="">footwear experience is a must</span></p></li><li class=""><p class="">Commercially sharp, with strong planning, negotiation and analytical skills</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Excellent brand awareness and understanding of customer behaviours and retail dynamics</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Confident communicator with previous budget and financial accountability</p></li><li class=""><p class="">Experience managing or mentoring junior team members is a bonus</p></li><li class=""><p class="">A passion for product and a genuine love for footwear trends, brands and innovation</p></li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>BBBH33851</strong></p></dd>