Job Description

An international Footwear Retailer, sporting Adventure Footwear, has a vacancy for a seasoned, talented Footwear Buyer. If fashion retail excites you, along with a fast paced and innovative environment, then this position may well be for you. You will need to have exceptional technical merchandising skills and the proven ability to interpret trends, conceptualise product and work individual fashion aspects such as colour, fabric and silhouette into an overall product strategy, culminating in practical delivery at retail level. Your energy, innovative approach and passion for product will ensure your competitive edge in this fast-paced environment.Responsibilities

• Achieve or surpass planned sales by dynamically responding to current trade through agility.
• Develop proactive action plans to address product performance issues in collaboration with the planner and report to management accordingly.
• Communicate changes in current trade that impact other departments such as resource, marketing, and visual merchandising.
• Monitor and manage sales by style, pre-production timelines, orders, and performance milestones to ensure delivery performance through rapid response to current trade.
• Manage supplier relationships and resolve delivery issues with suppliers.
• Conduct relevant competitor analysis and store visits, sharing findings with the greater team.
• Present a post-mortem on trade reports to senior business leaders, including competitor analysis, supplier performance, actual product execution, marketing, and trend feedback.
• Formulate a sub-category strategy as the foundation of the seasonal assortment framework, incorporating trend and post-mortem learnings.
• Develop a seasonal supplier strategy with the team and the resource department, ensuring a well-considered, risk-balanced approach.
• Work with Designers to proactively brief and produce graphics, artwork and CAD building for timely review.
• Be responsible for assortment building, presenting back to seniors if applicable.
• Collaborate with the team in preparing for review, ensuring the range aligns with seasonal strategic objectives.
• Prepare the range, verifying that all KPIs, width & depth, PMO, and sales targets are aligned.
• Align the booking process with production timelines and in-store deliveries in collaboration with the planner and resource.
• Ensure the fit and pre-production sample process delivers the right quality for the right price, aligning with production timelines.
• Confirm and raise purchase orders and any amendments in full detail.
• Travel locally and abroad to assess current market trends and provide detailed feedback.
• Contribute proactively in all team meetings and working sessions.
• Provide direction and coaching to juniors.

RequirementsQualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or a related field.
Experience: At least 5 years' experience as a Buyer or in a similar procurement role.
Additional: Successful track record of buying. Strong negotiation and communication skills. Must understand pricing, claims, value chains and settlement discounts. Knowledge of Exports and logistics would be advantageous. Familiarity with general merchandise market trends. Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, high pressure and dynamic environment. Position located in Johannesburg. Forward your CV to Gabi Traut at tpersonnel@iafrica.com should you have the required experience or call her on 083 274 5193. Visit our website www.trautpersonnel.co.za for all our positions.

Traut Personnel