Role Purpose:

The Assistant Buyer is responsible for supporting the Buyer in all areas of category management, delivering the department strategy and exceeding all financial targets.

Playing a vital part in supporting the end-to-end process of launching new products, you will be working with the Buyer to curate the range, source packaging to the agreed quality standard at the best price and achieving all critical path launch deadlines. You will be involved in category reviews, trend analysis, competitor shopping and product benchmarking.         

The ideal candidate with be organised, resilient and highly adaptable to the needs of the business. You will relish working in a fast-paced creative environment; highly effective at working as a team player, as well as competent in managing your own time.

You will have a collaborative approach to your work and be an exceptional communicator, both written and spoken, confident in influencing stakeholders across the business.

You will be able to demonstrate strong product skills and industry knowledge with an ability to identify and create market/product trends to realise new opportunities.

A keen eye for detail in this role is essential. From analysing trade reports to troubleshooting potential product issues or artwork amendments. You will relish problem solving and enjoy the varied dynamic of no day being the same.

You will be excellent in managing multiple tasks and projects at the same time and have a positive outlook and can-do proactive attitude. The right candidate will enjoy the opportunity this role provides in requiring a need for being both highly organised and structured with also being highly creative and innovation led.

Reports to: 

Hampers & Floristry Senior Buyer

Direct Reports: 

Buying Assistant

Key interfaces:

Merchandising, Retail, Design, Marketing, Online, & Technical

Key Accountabilities:

Range curation

• Manage end to end process of launching new product ranges, including management of critical path, product set up and trade agreement management.
• Contributes to or has responsibility for the curation/buy of a specific seasonal product ranges under the direction of the Buyer/Senior Buyer.
• Preparing up to date and relevant information and training packs (inc. seasonal) ensuring effective deployment across Retail, online, Wholesale and Satellite stores.
• Attends regular NPD sign off meetings to familiarise themselves with newness coming through from the wider teams.

Trading

• Running and updating weekly trade reports and monthly board reports for analysis with the Senior Buyer/Buyer, with the ability to present in the Buyer’s absence.
• Working with the merchandising team, and relevant retail teams to review and create drop plans in a timely fashion and in line with business requirements and seasonal demands.
• Supporting the Senior Buyer/Buyer on floor walks and site visits.

Relationships 

• Building and maintaining long term relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Working across the business to meet all the key needs from all key interfaces eg. Concierge, customer services, online, retail and marketing.
• Ensuring all relevant stakeholders have up to date product information.
• Ensure all suppliers meet the Fortnum & Mason compliance & QC standards

System Data Management

• Ensuring product information, both on our system (D365) and range plans are maintained and up to date.
• Supporting the Buyer/Merchandiser on processing all invoice queries and resolving them in a timely manner.
• Supporting customer services resolving questions in a timely manner.
• Maintaining the range plans across multiple seasons and channels

Trends

• Demonstrate an authentic and passionate understanding of the Fortnum’s brand, product and the competition within the market.
• Supporting competitor shops of product and pricing analysis.
• Support the buyer to anticipate customer needs and expectations. 

Role Specific Criteria (Experience/Behaviours/Technical Ability)

We expect the successful candidate to have the following skills and experience: 

• Demonstrable experience as a Senior Buying Administrator/Assistant or Assistant Buyer
• Ability to manage time and workload with often competing priorities and varying demands of the business
• Ability to maintain range plans across a multichannel business
• Exceptionally high level of verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to influence, effectively, with all team members and relevant key interfaces
• Strong customer service focus when dealing with both internal and external parties
• Ability to undertake duties autonomously as well as contribute to the wider team
• Detailed orientated with high levels of numeracy and analytical skills
• An interest in food trends and new products
• Experience in Own Brand and New Product Development
• Experience gained within a multichannel luxury/branded retail environment

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.

In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards.

In return, we offer: 

• A competitive salary
• A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
• 25 days holidays (excluded bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
• A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
• A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
• Excellent pension scheme