Cairo, Egypt

Senior Buyer/ Merchandiser

 Job Description:

Senior Buyer / Merchandiser

Job Summary

The Senior Buyer / Merchandiser is responsible for planning, organizing, buying, and managing the KPIs of merchandise for a single brand or a group of brands at top-line or department level, in line with the company's OTB policy and brand partner strategies. The role is responsible for effectively taking the company's trading strategy forward while maintaining acceptable stock levels.

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Commercial Performance

  • Manage sales to achieve the budget plan.
  • Analyze and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), including sales plan, intakes, gross profit, cost reductions, and stock, to assess performance and identify areas requiring improvement.
  • Implement necessary actions to improve business and sales performance.
  • Manage margin and profitability to achieve or exceed business and sales plan objectives.

Buying & Sourcing

  • Manage buying and sourcing for private label.
  • Build range plans, collections, and stories.
  • Keep updated with the latest market trends, technologies, and developments in fitness and sportswear.
  • Build detailed buy plans for each brand based on the Business Plan and the seasonal cycle rolling forecast of 18 months, in line with company and brand partner agreements.

Merchandise Planning

  • Build Open to Buy (OTB) plans for each brand, incorporating the required parameters to control receipts and manage closing stock.
  • Manage assortment plans in line with the agreed business plan.
  • Build profit planning strategies for each brand, incorporating the relevant profit parameters to achieve or exceed business and sales plan objectives.
  • Build store plans for each brand based on the Business Plan and the seasonal cycle rolling forecast of 18 months.

Inventory Management

  • Comply with stock turn parameters for each brand and benchmark performance against industry standards and best practices.
  • Take the necessary actions to improve stock turn performance measures.
  • Manage forward cover and closing stock in relation to sales.
  • Maintain acceptable stock levels while minimizing stock investment risk and maximizing profit.

Cost Reduction

  • Manage cost reduction activities.
  • Ensure markdown targets are met in order to maximize profitability.
  • Meet markdown and profit targets in line with the agreed business plan.

In-Season & Post-Season Management

  • Manage in-season performance and take the necessary actions to improve stock and sales performance.
  • Conduct post-season reviews for the season passed.
  • Apply key learnings to the next similar season while taking other aspects of the business into consideration.
  • Improve stock performance and sell-offs to support better sales.

Stakeholder Management

  • Work closely with the Merchandising Team, Planning Team, and IT Department.
  • Maintain effective relationships with brand partners, suppliers, and service providers.
  • Push and own Bought Model brands.

Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Commerce.

Experience

  • 2–3 years of experience as a Merchandise Planner.
  • 3–4 years of experience as a Specialist Planner is considered desirable.
  • Experience in Retail Buying, Planning, and Merchandising.
  • Experience in Sourcing and Private Label is desirable.
  • Experience in the Sports Industry is desirable.

Required Skills & Competencies

  • Strong team building and teamwork skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Strong presentation skills.
  • Strong written communication and influencing skills.
  • Conflict management skills.
  • Strong collaboration skills.
  • Customer-focused approach.
  • Performance-oriented mindset.
  • Strong decision-making skills.
  • Analytical and logical thinking.
  • Problem-solving skills.
  • Innovation and ability to identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to develop people.
  • Ability to deliver results.
  • Project management skills.
  • Ability to lead a team.
  • Integrity.
  • Flexibility and adaptability.
  • Self-confidence.
  • Proactivity.
  • Learning ability.
  • Self-awareness.

Technical Skills

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically MS Excel.
  • Advanced Excel skills are desirable.
  • Experience with Retail Merchandise Financial Planning Tool (R-MFP) is desirable.
  • Knowledge of designing, buying, and sourcing is desirable.

Job Details

  • Position: Senior Buyer / Merchandiser
  • Division: Sports Division
  • Department: Merchandise Planning and Buying
  • Reports To: Head of Buying, Planning and Supply Chain
  • Immediate Subordinates: Allocators
  • Work Environment: Primarily indoors within malls or office buildings
  • Working Hours: Normal office hours
  • External Relationships: Brand partners, suppliers, and service providers
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