Buying Manager

**Buying Manager - Country Road (Accessories)**:
**Job No.**: 997060

**Location**: Melbourne - CBD & Inner

**Job type**: Full-Time

**_Country Road Group (CRG) is embarking on transformation to position itself for growth, leveraging our scale, capabilities and culture as a House of Brands. We are investing in new and existing capabilities and have a number of exciting opportunities available._**

This role is responsible for overseeing the operational execution of the buying strategy for Country Road Accessories. This role ensures that product assortments meet the financial, customer, and brand objectives through close collaboration with the buying, design, planning and production teams. The Buying Manager is accountable for driving category growth and performance through optimising product assortments, while mentoring and developing junior buyers.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Lead the buying team for Accessories, serving as the voice and advocate for the customer, understanding market trends and competitors to inform buying decisions
- Identify and plan for emerging customer demands in fashion to drive innovation in product curation, establishing a compelling and differentiated assortment that resonates with target customers in terms of quality, style, price point and perceived value
- Display entrepreneurial approach to the business and proactively seeking and suggesting opportunities to improve the product range to drive financial performance and maximise sales
- Lead Accessories Product Assortments that can drive overall Category/ Channel goals - driving the commerciality of the Product Ranges to ensure they deliver sales/Brand metrics
- Ensure Accessories buying team deliver Product Assortments/Ranges that meet all Margin KPI’s in collaboration with Product Development counterparts
- Facilitate innovation in Category Product mixes through Range assortments to maximise Category sales
- Lead buying team to contribute and drive Seasonal Reviews, SWOTs and post seasonal product review meetings, collaborating with HO Planning and HO Design
- Travel overseas in conjunction with the Design and Prod Dev counterparts
- Manage, coach and develop junior buyers, ensuring their growth in product selection and commercial acumen
- Inspire the buying team to ensure range assortments can drive overall business goals and the commerciality of product ranges.

**Key Capabilities**
- 5+ years of experience in management, buying or merchandising with a proven track record of delivering successful buying strategies in a fast-paced retail or omnichannel environment
- Strategic thinking with the ability to develop and execute buying strategies that align with business goals and market trends
- Strong understanding of financial metrics, including revenue, margin, and inventory management, to drive profitable buying decisions
- Strong understanding of customer preferences, leveraging data-driven insights to create product assortments that resonate with target audiences
- Demonstrate an understanding of Product Construction and has proven expertise in delivering margin KPI’s of profitable product assortments
- Proven track record of training and developing buying talent.

**Why work for CRG?**

The Country Road Group is one of Australasia’s largest Lifestyle Brand Houses comprising of iconic brands such as Country Road, POLITIX, Trenery, Witchery and MIMCO. Here are some of the great things we offer:

- Generous employee discounts across our House of Brands
- Seasonal clothing allowance
- An additional day of leave for your birthday
- An Industry leading Parental Leave Program
- Flexible working arrangements to support work/life balance
- Annual learning calendar to support the ongoing development of our team
- Support community partnerships across our Corporate Social Responsibility Program
- We are committed to operating ethically, sustainably, and responsibly.

**About Country Road**

Since 1974, Country Road has built a legacy of effortless style and quality designs that are made to last. From its products to its partnerships and stores, the brand looks to drive positive change so you can feel proud of every Country Road purchase you take home.