Head of Buying @home

- Relevant degree or diploma in Fashion or Product Design, Buying and Merchandising, Commerce, Retail Management or a related field.
- Minimum of 15 years’ retail buying, merchandise and sourcing experience, including 5+ years at Head of Buying or Buying Manager level with proven people leadership.
- Proven track record of leading large, multi-category portfolios (R1 billion+) with accountability for turnover, gross margin, stock investment and market share.
- Demonstrated success in category turnaround and transformation, revitalising underperforming categories and growing market share through a customer-led product strategy.
- Proven experience leading private label (own brand) product from concept to shelf, working closely with Trend, Design, Product Development and Technical teams.
- Strong sourcing background, including direct imports and strategic local and offshore supplier partnerships, with exposure to own manufacturing an advantage.
- Experience across both premium and value retail environments, with the ability to build Good/Better/Best ranges that serve a broad customer base.
- Homeware or textiles experience (bed, bath, home furnishings, kitchen, dining or appliances) will be an advantage.
- Proven track record of building, coaching and developing high-performing teams, including succession planning and Employment Equity transformation.

SKILLS

- Strong design eye and trend-led thinking, translating trend, colour and fabric direction into distinctive, commercially viable ranges.
- Brand stewardship: building a distinct product handwriting that strengthens brand positioning and the customer proposition.
- Range building and assortment architecture (Good/Better/Best), balancing trend, quality, fit, value and commercial performance.
- End-to-end product development, product testing, quality and critical-path management to improve speed to market.
- Strategic sourcing and supplier development: supplier consolidation, capability building, performance metrics and contract/terms negotiation (local and offshore).
- Responsible and ethical sourcing aligned to sustainability standards.
- Commercial acumen and trade management, including Open-to-Buy, inventory investment, markdown optimisation and foreign exchange management for imported merchandise.
- Data-driven category management using customer insight, market and competitor analysis to drive KPIs (sales growth, GP%, GMROI, stock turn, clearance).
- Ability to lead change and process improvement, and influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration with Design, Planning, Sourcing, Technical, Marketing and Operations.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, under pressure and to tight deadlines .

BEHAVIOURS

- Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
- Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
- Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
- Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
- Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
- Ensures Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets

Preference will be given, but not limited to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act