Assistant Buyer - Beauty » London, Greater London (2024)

To stay close to customers, we expect our support teams to come into the office three days a week. We think that learning comes from working alongside each other, and that spending time with our teams makes us more creative and connected. It also means we can solve problems as soon as they arise, build trust, and get closer to our colleagues.

From Merchandising and Marketing - Product Development and Design, through to Supply Chain and Space Planning - our mission is to bring stylish wardrobe, home and beauty essentials to our customers via an easy, inspiring shopping experience online and in store that will delight them every time.

As we accelerate the transformation of our business to suit the changing needs of our customer, we need results-orientated colleagues that not only have a passion for our product, but a strong team working ethos, creativity and a healthy commercial aim to join us on our journey.

What’s in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – becoming a part and playing your part. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and always evolving business built on core values.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third party branded products for you and one member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
• We have discretionary bonus schemes depending on your role and our business performance.
• Get cover for twice your salary up to age 70 (double with our Pension Plan).
• We’ll help you save through our Pension Savings Plan, Share Buy and Sharesave schemes.
• Save on everyday costs through discounts and offers and get access to great health benefits.
• Bike/accessory hire with Cycle to Work and save on tax and national insurance.
• Buy the latest technology with interest-free financing directly from your salary.
• Get access to resources to support your wellbeing, including a free virtual GP service.
• Support your favourite charities by donating through your pay or volunteering for them.
• Industry-leading maternity, paternity, adoption and neo-natal policies, providing support and flexibility for you and your family.

What you’ll do

As the Beauty Assistant Buyer you will support the Buyer by displaying a clear understanding of M&S’ Beauty customer, ensuring the segments and demographics needs are understood and put at the heart of the product offer developed.

Your key accountabilities will include

• Support the Buyer to interpret and adapt to market trends and direction, ensuring that the conceptual range developed is differentiating and targeted to the needs of the customer. You will work with the Buyer to analyse sales to manage product mix parameters including price architecture, protecting brand principles nd margin to deliver a highly commercial and balanced range
• Promote and support the collaboration with key suppliers & brand partners to help develop appropriate partnerships to enable the department to react to trade, as well as negotiating the best prices and lead times r to achieve the gross margin buying target
• Contribute as an active member of the Buying team to work within a commercially focussed culture. Manage BAAs to ensure efficient product & sample management across the buying floor in order to meet all H&S regulations. Support BAA training and development to help upskill teams.
• To support the Buyer with the co-ordination and end to end execution of all new product development, can confidently own and take accountability to ensure new product development is delivered complete and on time to minimize launch delays
• To work with the Buyer to manage the departmental critical path (including supporting approvals), providing guidance and direction to junior members of the Buying team as well as other participants in the buying and product development process. To own and drive the production critical path.
• To actively participate in coordinating and presenting the range for sign-off and effectively managing systemic elements of the buying process, ensuring the timely completion of relevant systemic approvals and processes
• To work with Buyer in setting and delivering the strategy for the department. To develop strong working relationships with, and understanding of, external roles such as merchandising, Marketing, VM & POS teams. Can confidently build networks across the wider structure. You will support the buyer with 360 launch campaigns.

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Relevant buying experience with a major retailer, has an understanding of the Beauty industry (Either Branded or Own Brand Experience). Experience in developing a comprehensive product range including marketing and packaging which satisfies all customers’ future requirements
• Experience of negotiations and sourcing
• Understanding of the concepts of brand strategy and knowledge of the current competitive market place. A digital and global mind-set that supports the growth of international and online business
• Basic understanding of Merchandise Planning & ability to understand M&S Buying systems End to End and manage systems accountabilities for the Department
• Highly organised and self-motivated, accustomed to leading by example and taking the initiative
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate junior members of the team and communicate with Global Sourcing Offices and influence internal and external stakeholders. Proactive in agreeing to take on Buyer responsibilities. Role model for BAAs and strong interpersonal skills, capable of managing vertically and laterally

Everyone's welcome

M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the retail industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That’s why we’re revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There’s never been a better time to be part of our team. Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact.

We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process, and we are happy to talk flexible working.

If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment.