Buying Manager (Home Center)

Job Summary:

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

ROLE PROFILE / RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 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.

2. 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

Study trends from historical data around product category sales and market research to assist in the overall 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

Ensure effective in season management across territories (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis, stock vs sales performance)

3. 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

Ensure all design and development activities are carried out within budget

Ensure the merchandise procured and received meets the quality standards

4. Order and Vendor Management

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

Building supplier list for Local Buying

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 in order 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

5. People Management

Monitor team development and facilitate complaint resolution

Set KRA's for direct reports and conduct performance appraisal

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

6. Competition Research

Acquiring market intelligence through various sources & analyze trends which may impact our business.

Map competition prices / products and provide qualitative inputs to the business

Qualifications:

• 7 to 10 years’ experience in House hold / Furniture Retail.

• Bachelor’s degree is a must.

• Strong knowledge of Egypt market.

• Arabic speaking/Fluent English with Multinational Exposure.

• More than 5 years experience with Local Buying.

• Strong Communications Skills.

• Strong Analytical & Strategic Thinking.

• Detailed & Result Orientation

• Team building skills.