Buyer's Admin Assistant - Apparel (Own Label)

We are recruiting for a Buyer’s Assistant to join our Harrods Own Label Team, looking after our Apparel and Dual Branding offering. 

About the Role  

As a Buyer’s Assistant for Harrods Own Label, you will assist in the development of the product proposition to ensure the department strategy is achieved as well as providing vital administrative support to the Buyer and Assistant Buyer. You will be in charge of running weekly sales reports each Monday, distributing these accordingly – producing visuals of Best Sellers for Trade Meetings. 

You will take ownership of article creation and maintenance, ensuring articles are set up correctly for all orders. You will work closely with the Merchandising Team to ensure new vendors are set up on SAP accurately and in a timely manner. One of your main duties will be managing the Critical Path for the Homeware category: Maintaining an accurate delivery schedule from concept to delivery; ensuring merchandise is delivered on time by chasing samples and deliveries & liaising with Suppliers. Keep the shopfloor up to date on deliveries & new launches.

Your duties will also include: 

• Assist the Buyer and Designer with the product development process. Full understanding of the end to end process and management of design spec folder and approvals.
• Taking full ownership of sample management, receiving and sending parcels, labelling samples. Creating image libraries. Thorough checking of information to eliminate inaccuracies. Distribution of completed product catalogues to necessary parties.
• Act as link between buying office and shop floor through regular floor walks. Ensure excellent relations with business managers, retail managers and brand specialists encouraging regular product feedback and updates on best / worst sellers in the room as a whole. 
• Liaising with Quality Assurance Manager to ensure all new deliveries are quality controlled as soon as they arrive into the business. Ensure any issues are communicated to Buyer and necessary action taken.
• Maintaining regular contact with Visual Merchandising. Provide relevant information to VM for specific promotional activity. Constant monitoring of how products are presented, taking action where necessary. Regularly update Buyer on progress, key issues and changes to work priorities. Identify and review workload priorities regularly with Buyer.
• Ensuring the office is organised; introduce filing systems / order stationary etc and that it is always clear, tidy and presentable for external meetings.

About You  

We are looking for someone who has excellent administration and time management skills: through your work experience or education, you will be used to working at pace and delivering to key deadlines. You will be passionate about the Homeware category and have a solid understanding of luxury or luxury bridge brands with an Own Label product range. 

Whether you hold a Buying or Merchandising qualification, have prior Buying experience or have transferable skills with a desire to build a career in Buying – you will be a great relationship builder, with a “can do” attitude and be able to demonstrate a premium taste level.  

You will also have: 

• Good PC literacy, including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. SAP knowledge preferable.
• Effective prioritisation skills and ability to manage workload and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility and readiness to adapt to changing priorities.
• Proactive and solutions based thinking.
• Experience with managing internal and external stakeholders. 

About Us 

Harrods is one of the world’s leading luxury department stores and we’re becoming a destination the most sought-after brands from around the globe. Our combined mission is to make visiting our iconic Knightsbridge store one of the world’s most inspiring shopping experiences. 

Our Promise to You 
 
Help us make the impossible possible for our customers and we’ll do something remarkable for you. As well as offering a friendly environment to inspire your best work, we provide abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the varied specialisms of our business.

In return, you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including a company pension, flexible working, 22 days’ holiday, and your birthday off, up to 33% in-store discount (including across our food hall and restaurants) and a season ticket loan. 

Uniquely You 

At Harrods we believe the personality and authenticity of our people sets us apart.  We celebrate and invite applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes, and experiences and are proud of our culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique makes us exceptional. 

While our job adverts outline the ideal qualities, skills, and prior experience for the role, we believe in the potential for growth and value individual strengths. If you do not meet every desired criteria but feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in this role as well as a genuine interest in working for Harrods and you can demonstrate an alignment with our values, we would encourage you to apply.

If you want to know more about our people and our culture, search #TogetherHarrods on LinkedIn, Facebook or follow us on Instagram @togetherharrods