Associate Buyer - London

Position Overview

Ref #

W183410

State/Region

London

Department

Merchandising & Planning

Location

United Kingdom

City

London

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.


At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

POSITION OVERVIEW

This is an exciting opportunity for a Buying Associate to join and contribute to a high-performing Womenswear WHSL team. You will provide integral s upport to the Buying Team by establishing the optimum commercial assortment for your related categories, whilst maximizing the financial plan and respecting the category/brand objectives and direction to ensure we achieve our department financial plans.

Whilst still performing administrative duties, the role becomes more creative and strategic in its expectations. An Associate Buyer understands the brand and customer, aswell as possessing strong analytical skills to ensure our seasonal strategies are realised from inception all the way to implementation. Understanding both the marketplace & the facts and the figures are essential.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Associate Buyer is responsible for individual product categories throughout the complete product lifecycle; setting a category strategy, building seasonal range plans, buy selections, product pricing, analysing performance & financial planning with a strategic mindset.

Category Ownership

• Demonstrate and communicate awareness of retail landscape; conduct research on competitive set including pricing, style, and key messages and translate findings into actions.
• Present new product opportunities to senior, based on awareness of market, sales and trend analysis, with intent to influence future ranges development.
• Analyse business results in preparation for seasonal buy. Develop the ability to draw top line conclusions and actions from analysis.
• Own end to end process of product selection for owned categories, ensuring relevant and financially viable ranges that link back to departmental strategy and brand direction.
• Project unit requirements that will deliver the financial framework and balance KPIs (margin, buy cost/units, AIW, AIC, sales revenue/units).
• Support to prepare all necessary documents and resources for major calendar meetings, including Hindsight, Buy Review, Strategic Summit, Sign Off, Line Opening.
• Meticulous data integrity and system management, with the ability to troubleshoot any issues and identify better ways of working to improve efficiency.
• Build relationships with cross-functional partners across Buying, IMO, Brand Positioning & Regional teams to ensure the department critical path is maintained to the highest standard.
• Strong & confident presenter to present in key milestones for categories of ownership.
• Participate/initiate business development projects.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Highly organized whilst maintaining attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage timelines and juggle priorities
• A strong team player with a passionate, results-driven attitude
• Awareness of product trends and current state of market
• Highly proficient in Microsoft packages including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Effective communication skills at all levels, both written and spoken