Job Description

Tekkie Town is seeking to employ a dynamic and passionate Private Brand Footwear Buyer to execute the Company's product and purchasing strategy to achieve the Company's sales and profit objectives.
This key role requires someone with a strong understanding of footwear sourcing, range-building, value-engineering and brand integrity. A love for sports-related fashion is critical. A keen eye for identifying and selecting trends and embodying the sneaker and active lifestyle customer is essential. The successful candidate needs to be able to build customer-focused ranges across footwear categories and genders with products that embody style, quality, and trend-relevance for our target customers. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, has an inherent passion for product development, and is excited to shape the assortment for a leading brand, Umbro.
Qualifications

• A relevant degree / qualification in Fashion/Textile Design/Clothing Production/Product Development/Merchandising, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience of 5 years buying experience in footwear categories specifically
• Possesses a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of footwear construction, specifically sneakers and active-end-use footwear
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys the challenge of exceeding expectations
• Is a strong negotiator and relationship builder, securing win-win deals with suppliers
• Is a team player with strong communication and collaboration skills
• Stays organized, manages time effectively, and meets deadlines under pressure
• Proficiency in the latest G-Suite (Docs/Sheets/Slides) and Microsoft packages is an essential requirement.
• Working knowledge of a PLM system similar to Airtable advantageous.
• International and Local Travel required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation
• Collaboration with planning to manage OTB effectively
• Strategic thinking and analytical abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities and market conditions
• A commercial mindset to develop innovative and impactful product strategies
• Continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and differentiation, to maintain a competitive edge
• The ability to be resilient, have tenacity and maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure

Key Responsibilities

• Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
• Knowledge of specific sports-branded buying strategies e.g. franchise lifecycle management
• Understanding of retail business systems and related processes
• A comprehensive knowledge/understanding of SA's retail footwear market, customers and competitors, specifically in the sports and sport-related fashion segments
• Range building based on Good/Better/Best price tiering principles, as well as balancing core, seasonal and trend product lifecycles
• In this fast-paced role, you'll be responsible for applying brand relevant trends to your department and categories. Identifying must-have products, and building a collection that resonates with our target market
• Partnering with top suppliers to find high-quality products within budget and on time
• Delivering on aggressive targets and maximizing margins
• To source & select the correct supplier for the appropriate product category and manage them according to the Company policies and procedures.
• To ensure the timeous execution of procurement administration to meet the target dates in the critical path of the supply chain
• To source and procure products within the agreed quality specifications & standards
• To ensure compliance with agreed quality specifications & standards
• To develop and influence cross-functional partnerships with all specified key relationships.

Skills Required