Job Title

Footwear Buyer | Established - Senior | Circa £55,000 + Benefits | Manchester Fuel your passion for footwear in a fast-paced, brand-driven buying environment.What You'll Be DoingAs a Branded Footwear Buyer, you'll be the driving force behind building and delivering compelling, commercial, and trend-led branded footwear ranges. You live and breathe footwear, understand the nuances of branded assortments, and know how to turn data into sell-out collections. From strategy to store floor, you're all about creating the perfect line-up for our customers-across all channels.Your Key Missions as the Buyer:Planning & StrategyLead the seasonal strategy for your category-collaborating closely with the Head of Buying and Trading ManagerPresent your vision to the Buying & Merchandising Director with confidence, aligning to our wider commercial goalsAnalyse seasonal performance and market trends to inform data-led, customer-first decisionsEnsure ranges are tailored to store footprint, fascia, and channel needs, driving sell-through and limiting markdownsUnderstand the branded landscape: from positioning and pricing to product mix and target customerUse customer insight and trend forecasting to shape future range builds and category directionCollaborate with Merchandising to produce detailed seasonal sign-off packs with clear sales and margin targetsIdentify new commercial opportunities to grow market share and keep us ahead of the curveRange Creation & ExecutionCurate standout, brand-led assortments that speak directly to our customer profilesChampion the critical path-ensuring range selections are delivered on time and with impactAttend buying appointments, trade shows and brand meetings with a clear plan and purposeWork with brands to develop exclusive or collaborative products that give us a point of differenceBuild seasonal "go-to-market" strategies across store and onlineSecure funding and support from brands to deliver meaningful marketing activations and in-store/online campaignsFeed into VM and space planning to ensure premium presentation of your rangePartner with marketing teams to drive footfall and customer engagement with the right product, in the right place, at the right timeTrading & PerformanceMonitor weekly KPIs and performance metrics to flag risks and opportunitiesDrive in-season trading activity-including pricing, stock movement and marketing pushesContribute to weekly trading meetings and write monthly reports to inform future decisionsWork closely with Merchandising to ensure stock turns are optimised and profit is maximisedRegularly visit stores to assess product performance, presentation and local opportunitiesPartnerships & Commercial NegotiationManage and build strong supplier relationships to drive value beyond just productNegotiate commercial terms-think payment terms, returns, marketing support and margin improvementsMonitor supplier SLAs and ensure brand partners deliver against expectationsLeadership & CollaborationLead by example, promote collaboration across departments and champion a positive cultureCoach and support junior team members through regular feedback and development planningShare best practices and contribute to a "right first time" mindset across the teamEncourage innovation and learnings to shape smarter buying practicesWhat We're Looking ForProven experience in a branded buying role-footwear experience is a mustCommercially sharp, with strong planning, negotiation and analytical skillsExcellent brand awareness and understanding of customer behaviours and retail dynamicsConfident communicator with previous budget and financial accountabilityExperience managing or mentoring junior team members is a bonusA passion for product and a genuine love for footwear trends, brands and innovationBBBH33851