Head of Buying

Overview:

The Head of Buying plays a strategic and hands on leadership role in shaping and executing the overall buying direction for Kilkenny Design and its associated brands. This includes full responsibility for the product strategy development, execution, and commercial performance. The role is pivotal in ensuring a differentiated, trend-forward, and commercially viable product assortment across all categories instore and online.

We are looking for a visionary innovator, someone who challenges the status quo, embraces change and brings business wide mindset to leadership. The ideal candidate is strategically minded, comfortable making high level decisions and skilled at bringing people at all levels on the journey with them.

Reporting to the CEO and leading a team of buyers and administrators, the Head of Buying will define and implement the buying strategy to drive sales, margin, and customer satisfaction reflecting Kilkenny’s premium design ethos and evolving market landscape.

This is a key leadership role that collaborates closely with internal stakeholders such as the CEO, Head of Merchandising, Retail Director and ecommerce Director to deliver on the group’s commercial and creative ambitions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic direction for the full product portfolio, buying across all categories, including jewellery, crystal, homeware, art, womenswear, menswear, kids, fashion accessories, wellness, food, and seasonal ranges.
• Define and own the strategic vision for Kilkenny’s Own Brand proposition, from concept to customer, working in collaboration with the own brand and buying teams to ensure alignment across product development, pricing, sourcing, design and brand positioning.
• Take a business wide view, working cross functional to ensure buying decisions support broader strategic goals and customer experience.
• Build and manage the full buying calendar and critical path for all categories, ensuring timely product delivery and commercial success across retail and online channels.
• Ensure Kilkenny Design’s product offering is unique, trend-led, competitively priced, and aligned with the brand’s design, quality, and sustainability values.
• Take end-to-end ownership of the procurement process in line with best practices, including supplier sourcing, negotiation, and contract management.
• Ensure the product offering is being maximised across all channels, for the domestic and international customer, and via our international websites.
• Champion innovation and change, constantly seeking ways to improve buying process, product development and category performance.
• Lead and develop a high-performing buying team through clear objectives, regular performance reviews, and a strong culture of accountability and creativity.
• Maintain strong partnerships with suppliers and vendors, fostering collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. 
• Use robust data analysis, market intelligence, and trading performance to guide decision-making and category development.
• Manage stock levels, working closely with the Merchandising team to ensure optimal availability, sell-through, and inventory control.
• Identify and respond to emerging market trends, expanding into new product categories to capture growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Visual Merchandising and Retail Operations teams to deliver compelling in-store presentations and support the storytelling of all product lines.
• Partner with the digital and e-commerce teams to enhance the online product offer for both the domestic and US sites, ensure stock availability, and improve the overall customer journey online.
• Establish commercial terms and SLAs with vendors, in conjunction with the commercial and finance teams.
• Deliver key financial metrics, including sales growth, margin improvement, stock turn, and markdown optimization through strong commercial acumen.
• Receive continuous feedback on what the customers and colleagues are saying about our product ranges and action accordingly.

Key Skills and Experience:

• The successful candidate will bring deep product development expertise, having owned the process from concept through to launch.
• Strong people leadership with the ability to influence, mentor and develop others.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Senior Buyer or Buying Manager in a fast-paced retail environment, including demonstrated ownership of Own Brand strategy, product development and execution. Experience in Own Brand Development a real advantage in the role
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive strategic growth while managing day-to-day operational execution.
• Demonstrated success in product development and sourcing across multiple categories.
• Deep understanding of supply chain, procurement, and inventory management principles with key supplier and manufacturing contacts
• Excellent negotiation, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Proficient in Excel, buying platforms, and merchandise planning tools.
• Consumer- and trend-focused mindset with a passion for retail and design.
• Full driving license required.
• Highly motivated, adaptable, and results-driven.

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