Head of Buying – Menswear

Role Responsibility

As our Head of Buying for Menswear, you will:

• Work with the Director of Menswear & Womenswear to develop, implement and deliver the creative strategy for menswear to maximise sales and hit profit targets
• Use sales and performance information to steer the Menswear Buying team to maximise opportunities
• Reinforce the brand by ensuring the desired quality standards for fabric, colour and fit are achieved and sustainably sourced in line with our Project Earth initiatives
• Be passionate about the space where you’ll demonstrate exceptional awareness of competitors and external trends
• Continually strive to improve and build mutually effective supplier relationships, as well as identify new sourcing opportunities and provide focused, clear development direction to the current supplier base
• Analyse trading patterns, advising teams and ensuring appropriate action is taken in the event of unforeseen sales reactions
• Ensure the team buys a commercially viable product range that reflects the brand image and incorporates current trends. You’ll be key in building, retaining and developing a high performing team with an emphasis on succession planning
• Motivate and engage the team by building a solid, positive working environment, helping to coach them in their development and celebrate their successes
• Partner with the Merchandising team to plan the OTB and to monitor and review in season, taking action or making recommendations to the Director of Menswear & Womenswear where necessary
• Set the creative direction that positions Selfridges at the forefront of Menswear fashion
• Drive and implement creative new concepts for our customer base
• Partner with our wider digital team to manage the availability and offering of product online ensuring the best possible online customer experience

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience of implementing and delivering creative strategy for Menswear to maximise sales and hit profit targets
• The ability to analyse sales and performance information to steer the Menswear Buying team to maximise opportunities
• Exceptional awareness of competitors and external trends
• Experience of improving and building supplier relationships
• The ability to identify new sourcing opportunities and provide focused, clear development direction to the current supplier base
• Skilled in analysing trading patterns, advising teams and ensuring appropriate action is taken in the event of unforeseen sales reactions
• Experience of building, retaining and developing a high performing team with an emphasis on succession planning
• Proven experience of motivating and engaging a team by building a solid, positive working environment, helping to coach them in their development and celebrate their successes
• Previous experience of planning the OTB and monitoring and reviewing in season, taking action or making recommendations where necessary
• Experience of driving and implementing creative new concepts for our customer base
• Previous experience of partnering with wider digital teams to manage the availability and offering of products online ensuring the best possible online customer experience

About the Company

Rewards and benefits 

Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary. 

• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working

• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service 

• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations 

• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies 

• Defined pension contribution scheme  

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme  

• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days 

• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment 

• Subsidised gym memberships  

• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility criteria)

• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members 

• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail… 

Everyone is welcome 

Selfridges is a place where we want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. We embrace every self and are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive working culture. We are leading with purpose to not only increase the visibility and recognition of under-represented talent within our organisation, but the wider industry too. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome – irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all.   

Our awards cabinet  

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times. 

Selfridges