Marks and Spencer
Senior Buyer Womenswear Knitwear
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Senior Buyer – Knitwear Department
Location: Hybrid
Team: Merchandising and Marketing – Product Development and Design, to Supply Chain and Space Planning
Our mission at Marks & Spencer is to bring stylish wardrobe, home, and beauty essentials to customers through an easy and inspiring shopping experience—both online and in-store. As we accelerate our business transformation to meet the changing needs of our customers, we seek result-driven professionals who:
- Exhibit passion for our product offering
- Demonstrate a strong team ethos
- Bring creativity and healthy commercial ambition
- Embrace a collaborative, evolving environment
The Opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to lead our Knitwear department, the second-biggest department in Womenswear.
As Senior Buyer, you will:
- Shape the future of the Knitwear range, leading a team from Junior Buyer to Buying Association Executive (BAA)
- Develop and trade highly commercial ranges that exceed sales and profit targets
- Drive innovation, digitally enabled shopping experiences, and global expansion
What You’ll Do
Your key responsibilities will include:
Strategic Lead for Customer-Centric Offerings
- Promote and ensure a deep understanding of M&S’ Womenswear customer, tailoring product ranges to their needs.
- Collaborate with Design teams to interpret market trends, develop innovative concepts, and define a differentiating online product strategy.
Data-Driven Decision Making
- Analyse historical sales trends in line with design direction to optimise product mix.
- Cost price negotiations and supply chain management to enhance commercial performance.
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Collaborative leadership across business functions
- Work with senior buyers, technical teams, merchandising, marketing, and global supply offices to align the global product strategy.
- Foster a strong trading culture, identifying opportunities and embedding proactive risk management with Merchandising teams.
Talent Development & Team Success
- Provide leadership to global sourcing teams, ensuring alignment with product development.
- Identify and develop talent within the buying team, fostering internal mobility.
Who You Are
Essential skills and experience include:
- At least Senior Buyer level experience in fast-paced trading fashion retailers, with own-buy specialization in Womenswear Knitwear.
- Style-focused passion for fashion, with clear product intuition.
- Proven track record in developing and trading highly commercial ranges that exceed sales/profit targets.
- In-depth knowledge of Knitwear sourcing, cost price negotiations, and the material supply base.
- Familiarity with brand strategy principles and the role of Womenswear Knitwear in a global retail context.
- Strong trend-spotting ability to stay ahead in the digital and global marketplace.
- Excellent time management and ambiguity resolution skills, providing clear direction to teams.
- Proven leadership in current and former roles, with coaching and talent development experience.
- Commitment to proactively taking on greater Buying leadership responsibilities.
- Strong digital mind-set, especially in online product strategy implementation.
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Why Work at Marks & Spencer?
We’re more than a retailer. Joining M&S means contributing to an evolving industry leader with purpose-driven innovation and inclusivity. Here are just a few of the rewards:
Key Benefits
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and third-party brands (available post-probation).
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to purchase additional days.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to performance.
- Financial security through strong pension and life assurance plans.
- Tailored induction & training to accelerate your professional development.
- M&S Choices – exclusive perks and savings portal.
- For employees, market-leading parental, adoption, and neonatal leave policies.
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including telehealth services and mental health resources.
- One paid volunteer/hobby day per year to engage with causes or personal interests.
Our Commitment to Diversity
Marks & Spencer is an ambitious, ambitious organisation driving change in retail. We uphold inclusivity and interpersonal trust, ensuring every team member can thrive with their full, authentic self.
If you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment—whether accommodations for accessible interview formats or additional support – please disclose during application. Our team will work with you.
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