Assistant Buyer (Hard Accessories - Lighting, Mirrors, Decor), Soho Home

Reporting to the Buying and Product Development Manager, the Assistant Buyer will play an important supporting role in the sourcing and product development strategy for Soho Home, bringing bespoke products to the retail marketplace.

As the Assistant Buyer you will support the team to optimize the performance of the buying and product development functions, to execute design briefs to a high standard whilst maximizing profitability.

With the guidance of the Buying and Product Development Manager, you will provide support throughout the critical path to ensure the department is operating in line with the objectives of the business, to add value and mitigate supply chain risk. As Assistant Buyer, you may manage a Buying and Product Development Assistant to ensure all administrative and operational duties are delivered on time and with the upmost accuracy. This role will specifically see the category Hard Accessories - Lighting, Mirrors, Decor

• Provide integral support to the Department Manager along the development critical path, ensuring key calendar milestone are always met
• Manage all administrative tasks along the critical path and product lifecycle, from brief to first production and commercial trading
• Update and maintain the seasonal development tracker, ensuring all key dates along the development calendar are input
• Where necessary, manage a Buying and Product Development Assistant, setting a good example at all times
• Collaborate closely with the Soho Home Design & Technical teams to ensure briefs are executed to the highest standard, whilst meeting commercial expectations of price and margin
• Issue seasonal briefs for the department to the identified suppliers, ensuring specifications, price targets and key deadlines are clearly communicated
• Attend weekly design and production meetings and final sample inspections, recording comments and preparing feedback for suppliers as required
• Communicate comments and/or product approvals to suppliers with the upmost attention to detail
• Assist the Buying and Product Development Manager with meeting preparations and with ad-hoc department tasks
• Assist with department trade preparation
• Support with commercial analysis of the department in collaboration with the Merchandising team to ensure brand sales opportunities are maximised
• Demonstrate a strong awareness of competitors and external industry trends, completing competitor analysis reports when required
• Assist in all preparations required for prototype and finalisation meetings – report preparations, Best/Worst sales boards, and physical set up of the sample space/showcase. Support Assistants while overseeing all logistical elements to ensure samples are on time and in place as directed by the Manager and/or Design Director.
• Oversee the briefing of bespoke/giftable packaging where required
• Support with the successful onboarding of new suppliers as and when required
• Proactively manage customer service queries to drive the best resolution with the support of the Assistant

• A minimum of 2 years product development and commercial buying experience
• An excellent communicator both written and verbally, with strong interpersonal skills
• Experience of working with a varied supply base, including domestic, European and Far East suppliers preferred
• Naturally collaborative
• A creative problem-solver, naturally curious with the confidence to challenge current practices to instigate positive change
• Strong organisational skills with an emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy
• Analytical and results orientated
• Enjoys working in a changing environment, able to demonstrate agility when responding to industry trends and evolving demands as Soho Home expands into new markets
• Excellent time management skills
• A self-motivator who is enthusiastic and keen to progress and develop
• Passionate about Soho House and Soho Home, ensuring the member and customer is at the heart of all key decision making
• Ability to keep calm under pressure, always retaining a friendly and positive can-do attitude