Landmark Group - Senior Manager/Manager - Buying (7-14 yrs)

Position Objective:

Overall business management of assigned product category/department and will ensure the development, implementation and management of the category business plans to maximize sales and profits.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Growth and Profitability

- Drive sales from the assigned category by developing comprehensive category business plans

- Drive and monitor gross margins for the category and ensure alignment with the organization's position, business plan and budgets

Category Merchandise Planning:

- Prepare annual plans for the assigned category and provide inputs to the Merchandising Development and Buying Head to assist in creation of overall merchandizing budget

- Manage Buying Team to utilise historic and market data to assist in effective department level planning process

- Ensure adherence to financial plan in all key areas - sales, markdowns, margin & average inventory

- Discuss, decide, and freeze the merchandise plans (pricing, promotion, assortment etc.) for the category with the Merchandise Planning department

Category Design and Quality:

- Ensure optimum utilization of customer research information to guide category management decisions, including decisions on the introduction of new products, product assortment, shelf layout, promotion and pricing of products in the store

- Formulate design and development plan in consultation with the Design Head with specifications on product features, functions, packaging and resource requirement across categories

- Work with quality to ensure the merchandise procured and received meets the quality standards set by Home Centre

Order and Vendor Management:

- Create an adequate vendor base for the organization through active scouting and negotiation / renegotiation

- Maintain relationships with key vendors who are critical for the long-term success of the business

- Review the financial and credit services agreement with the key vendors to maximize profit and positively contribute to cash flow

- Determine buying requirements and formulate buying plan and budget for the assigned category

- Monitor Orders based on the buying plan and follow-up to ensure merchandise delivery as per the plan based on the agreed service level agreement

- Pursue cost reduction measures through centralized bulk buying and/ or selecting appropriate vendor mix, scanning the environment for benchmarks, and constantly improving the purchase process

People Management:

- Manage and support recruitment

- Monitor team development and facilitate complaint resolution

- Structure and monitor team development to drive effective strong succession planning. Where necessary facilitate complaint resolution

- Set KRA's for direct reports and conduct performance appraisal

- Oversee staff deployment and drive motivation levels of the direct reportees

Competition Research:

- Acquire market intelligence through various sources & analyse trends which may impact our business.

Experience & Competencies:

- 10 years relevant experience of which at least 5-8 years should have been in retail industry (Home Furnishing experience will be an advantage)

- Good Knowledge of Buying principles and processes

- Advanced Knowledge of Retail industry and home retail brands

- Strategic thinking

- Result orientation

- Teamwork & collaboration

- Communication skills

- Planning and organizing skills

- Commitment to excellence