Senior Assistant Buyer

About us

Dune London, is the leading affordable luxury footwear and accessories brand in the UK, with broad distribution across both the UK and internationally. It has 50 stores in the UK and over 100 in 25 countries around the world. The company is entering a period of sustained growth both through additional stores, expansion of sales on its online channels and through third party partners both in the UK and globally.

The Dune Group has over the years built an enviable position as the specialist in quality fashion footwear and accessories which has given it a unique position at the high end of the high street.

About the role

We’re looking for a proactive and commercially minded individual to support the Buyer in sourcing and developing a well-balanced product range for Outlet. You’ll play a key role in meeting planning deadlines through effective supply chain coordination and strategic supplier management.

About you

What we need from you:

Source and develop product

• Contribute to development of department with Buyer ensuring all systems are maintained and updated.
• Understand and collate all available market data to identify trends and assesses competition to ensure delivery of optimum product offer.
• Assist in sourcing and development product for overseas market and understanding nature of product selling.

Planning

• Developing and controlling the department’s critical path for each season’s buying activity ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Assist Buyer in preparation and, where appropriate, presentation of range reviews and selection meetings.
• Manage the compilation and update of in-house order database and visual catalogues.
• Manage sample process in line with critical dates.
• Liaising with suppliers to meet their deadlines & critical dates.

Maximising Sales and Profit

• Understand current business performance in team meetings and make recommendations for action to recover any short fall, maximize opportunities and limit risk.

Managing Supply Chain

• Overseeing shipping process to ensure maximum efficiency of deliveries within season.
• Control and manage forecasted intake of stock within season.
• Ensure relevant and appropriate shipping methods are applied in accordance with agreed costing plan.
• Supervise Buyer’s Assistant to ensure at correct time, specs and orders are generated to meet agreed dates.
• Working with suppliers to ensure delays are minimized and action taken accordingly.
• Working with suppliers to monitor performance to meet agreed measures.
• Build professional business relationships with suppliers at appropriate contact level.

Sales Reporting

• Collating weekly sales packs in time to agreed deadlines.
• Preparation of end of season sales analysis to include SWOT and best-sellers reports.

Communication

• Support effective communication at all levels both internally and externally.
• Participate and lead regular team meetings to agree team priorities and any changes to plans.
• Respond promptly and efficiently to product queries from other head office departments.
• Liaise with UK merchandising team to ensure agreed delivery dates are met and orders completed.
• Working with franchise partners to ensure communication is well maintained. Reporting back to the team relevant information and following up accordingly.

Teamwork

• Support buyer to build an effective and motivational team environment.
• Supervise buyer’s assistant workload to ensure deadlines are met.
• Deputise for buyer as required.
• Support induction and training of new team members as required.
• Participate in training and development.

ESSENTIAL

• Currently at Assistant Buyer level
• Exceptional communication skills
• Budget control
• Report writing
• Passion for Dune London.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team

About the perks

• Blended working – spreading your time across our office and remote working
• New sustainable office in bustling West London (near Westfield)
• Friendly and open culture with flat structures allowing plenty of opportunity for development.
• Company growth and opportunity; Dune is opening new stores and channels and evolving all the time
• Open-minded company, welcoming thoughts and ideas to be shared
• Working with charitable organisations to help raise funds and give something back. Our current charity partner is Mental Health UK.
• 60% employee discount on Dune products – what’s not to love!
• 25 days holiday (plus the bank holidays)
• Cycle2work and season ticket loans
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance for all team members
• We look after our people
• 3.00 p.m. finish every pay day Friday!
• Team socials and drinks – we like to have fun!
• Access to our employee assistance programme, retailTRUST, who provide loads of resources to support with wellbeing and personal development offer free counselling legal advice and financial guidance.
• Our own Wellbeing Allies – there to talk when you need them.

What happens next?

We will take a good look at your application and if we don’t feel we are right for you, we’ll make sure we let you know but sadly we are not able to give tailored feedback.

If we are excited to find out more about you, we will give you a call and arrange to talk.

A few things that might help:

• Research the brand, the role, your interviewer on LinkedIn; browse our website; and visit a store if you can
• Make sure you have plenty of examples to show off all your amazing skills and experience relevant to this role