Buying Manager - Own Brand

Since 2011, THE ICONIC has redefined the future of retail in Australia and New Zealand. As the #1 fashion e-commerce & lifestyle destination in the region, our e-commerce platforms provide an inspiring and seamless end-to-end customer experience through our own technology innovations. 

We are currently looking for a Buying Manager to join our Own Brand Team. Reporting into our GM of Own Brands this role is essential in driving the conception and development of all product in your brand by always driving innovation & creativity with a customer centric focus. This role is an excellent opportunity for a creative but commercially minded Fashion Buying Manager who can translate trends into unique, contemporary designs.
 

About the role:

Brand Direction & Strategy:

• Stay abreast of industry trends, competitors and emerging technologies, to inform and inspire brand strategies
• Ensure product assortments are innovative, on-brand, and customer-centric, maintaining brand identity and integrity while meeting market demands.
• Develop and articulate individual brand’s vision and strategies in alignment with THE ICONICs Own Brands portfolio, budgets and sales expectations
• Attend all sign-offs to approve range/product selections, providing guidance and constructive feedback to maintain brand quality and consistency across the assortment whilst ensuring buyers meet all financial KPIs 

Process Ownership & Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for streamlining processes, enhancing collaboration, and optimising resource allocation to maximise departmental productivity and performance.
• Implement best practices and standards to ensure consistency, reliability, and scalability across buying operations.

Trade Analysis:

• Reviews and suggests actions on comprehensive weekly trade analysis encompassing sales performance, market trends, and competitor activities Develops tangible strategic actionable plans to optimise departmental performance, including NMV, profitability, and stock cover

Supplier Management and Negotiation:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with vendors, negotiating favourable terms/costs  and driving mutual success through collaboration and innovation.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards, sustainability goals, and ethical sourcing practices across the supply chain.
• Work closely with the sourcing team to develop supplier standards and factory capabilities matrix/production capacity matrix

Budgeting & Resource Management:

• Collaborate with GM to establish and manage Own Brand Brand P&L’s in line with expectations, ensuring efficient use of resources and cost structure/spend allocation
• Assess resource needs and provide recommendations for team growth and/or skill development.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Provide strategic direction and visionary leadership to direct reports and wider design team, setting clear objectives, priorities, and performance metrics to drive departmental success fostering a culture of accountability and innovative buying culture .
• Drives the professional development of team members through coaching, training, and performance feedback.
• Review and action strategies for improved team engagement

Marketing:

• Lead monthly 'Go To Market' initiatives, working closely with marketing and creative teams to align brand and product assortment with brand messaging and promotional strategies.
• Provide input on marketing campaigns and creative executions to maximise product visibility and sales impact.
• Alongside the planning function you will monitor Sales against budgets and take/drive actions across the wider team to ensure financial KPIs are met
• Collaborate at a strategic level with wider business teams to gain deep insights into market demands, customer feedback, and sales data.

What it takes

• Minimum 2+ years experience at a Senior Buyer level
• Experience in managing high profile brands and categories with a proven track record in exceeding financial KPIs including driving Sales $ NMV growth with a focus on profitability
• Able to showcase that under their guidance individuals and teams have achieved success, career growth and improvements in ways of working
• Thorough understanding of the Australian/International Retail Market
• Great influencer, strong negotiator and outstanding communicator in both verbal and written communication - can get the best out of people and suppliers
• Strong analytical skills and a depth of experience in consumer insights and research
• Ability to think and concept strategically with a thorough understanding of wider business functions
• Dreams Big! 

Life at THE ICONIC

From our ways of working to our growth mindset and sustainable approach, we each add unique value and have an incredible amount of fun doing it! People are our greatest asset and our ICONITE experience is designed to empower you to do your best work.

At THE ICONIC, we believe in doing things a little differently. Whether it's the way we work, our unstoppable growth mindset, or our dedication to sustainability—every ICONITE brings their own unique flair, and we have an absolute blast along the way! People are our greatest asset, and our ICONITE experience is all about empowering you to be your best self—while having a ton of fun doing it!

Here’s a taste of what life at THE ICONIC looks like:

🌟 Flex Your Way – Hybrid working options so you can slay your day wherever works best for you!

🧠 Learning Collective – From learning days to hackathons, we’re all about leveling up our skills together!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents at THE ICONIC – Parental leave and an extra day off for your Child's first day at school, because those moments matter.

🎂 Birthday Bliss – Celebrate YOU with a paid day off and an ICONIC voucher to spoil yourself!

🛍️ Style Game Strong – Our Iconic staff discounts and exclusive ICONITE sample sales will keep your wardrobe on point at all times

💪 Wellness – Access to discounted gym memberships and wellbeing programs because a healthy you is a happy you!

💛 People First – We’ve got your back (and your family's!) with our Employee Assistance Program.

🌍 Do Good, Feel Good – Give back through volunteer days with our Charity Partner, Thread Together, and make a difference in society and the environment.

👯‍♀️ Refer a Friend, Reap the Rewards – Score big with our referral program when your recommended friends join the ICONITE crew!

We are committed to making it easy for everyone to apply. If you require accessibility support or any adjustments during the recruitment process, please send an email to talent.attraction@theiconic.com.au

If you’re ready to take on a New role we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and be part of the exciting journey at THE ICONIC