Join our friendly and talented Buying team as our new Assistant Buyer. Where you will ensure the smooth running process of purchasing and production of our own label girls fashion range. Working closely with the other members of the design and production team this role helps ensure goods are developed and then produced to schedule, to target costings and to the quality standard expected. Working with the Buyer you will be involved with sourcing new suppliers and managing existing suppliers. The role also involves helping with the management and training of team - BAAs and Trainees to ensure targets are met with regards to systems management, sample management and ad hoc administrative duties.

Main responsibilities:

Systems, Supply and Delivery

• Ensuring new and revised items are issued to vendors
• Ensuring critical path for development and production is accurate and up to date.
• Ensuring the system is accurate at all times.
• Assisting the Buyer in sourcing of new supply opportunities that meet our ethical / trading standards.
• Ensuring all new suppliers and items are correctly created on the system
• Placing and confirming order quantities and schedules with suppliers.
• Setting up and maintaining delivery schedules managing the input and update of ETA's on the system
• Liaising with suppliers to ensure information flows and critical dates achieved
• Helping manage team to hit delivery dates - ensuring regular weekly supplier updates, chasing for deliveries and highlighting any issues.
• Liaising with Supply Chain / Tech / Merchandising ref expected deliveries
• Helping manage the team liaison with the supply chain team, ensuring clear communication to enable the smooth running of the process.
• Liaison with Supply Chain / Technical / Merch / Stores ref any QC issues and taking action as necessary.
• Emergency sourcing of replacement product

Range Development, Planning, Trading & Market Performance

• Ensuring range plans and department spreadsheets are up to date and accurate
• Preparation of samples for meetings and assisting Buyer in meetings.
• Supporting with samples and submissions as required
• Ensuring all current season sales information is accurate and up to date and useful
• Ensuring all competitors product and price analysis is accurate and up to date
• Presenting comps to senior team members when required
• Ensuring key team visual and data led information such as sales and selections are produced for relevant meetings
• Bringing to attention and following up on any new development or design opportunities
• Work with the Buyer responsible for overseeing ancillary trim items such as polybags/ labels/ swingers to ensure we are optimising the best offer available in terms of sustainability , price, quality and delivery .
• Support the buyer in the garment costing process , chasing prices , sending agreed targets and updating the cross cost sheets
• Support the buyer in sourcing new suppliers ensuring that we sourcing in line with our Ethical and sustainability guidelines ensuring we communicate the changes to the other internal teams such as Garment Tech and design.

Communications & Web, Catalogue, Social Media

• Ensuring Photo and Wholesale samples are received and used through the business as required
• Supporting the Creative Assets department in preparing for photoshoots.
• Contributing to the smooth running of the photoshoot, if required

Team Success

• Identifying team priorities and assistant the buyer and AB in managing the team to meet deadlines
• Overseeing the training of the junior team members
• Assisting the Buyer with trouble shooting problems and focusing on solutions.
• Positively supporting the BAA's, covering in absence and finding positive solutions to process complications.
• General support to the business as required

Key competencies and skills will include:

• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Exemplary verbal and written English
• Ability to utilise systems & employ processes effectively for the role.
• Strong time management skills, attention to detail, and accuracy of work.
• Ability to assess problems and recommend solutions.
• Confident supplier management and influencing skills.
• Ability to be an efficient, multi-tasking and reliable team member who can be responsible for their own priorities and workload.
• Ability to self-manage stress levels , ensuring that tasks are prioritised and adjusted in line with the dynamic needs of the business.

Key performance indicators could include:

• The successful management of the critical path - meeting key dates.
• Proven supplier management and solid supplier relationships.
• Accuracy of Navision and spreadsheets to ensure minimal business corrections
• Actively seeking to achieve team goals and assist others, supporting colleagues.
• Using initiative to improve the way we do things.
• Aptitude to learn whilst in the role.
• Being a positive influence in the team and wider business
• Acting in accordance with our B-Corp principles and engaging in our ethos and culture.
• Having a high level of autonomous working and ability to self-prioritise

Perks and Benefits:

• Extra day of annual leave for each year you’re with us, up to 38 days.
• Want to increase your holiday allowance? Holiday buying scheme.
• Is it your birthday? Take it off and celebrate!
• Let’s celebrate JoJo doing well – non-contractual annual bonus scheme.
• Helping plan for the future - enhanced pension scheme.
• Get on the move - cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing app - pay yourself 40% of your earnt wages whenever you want.
• Flexible work options, including hybrid working.
• Enjoy fabulous social events.
• Saying thank you – employee recognition programme.
• Give back with volunteer days to support our communities.
• Prioritise your well-being with our Health and Wellbeing hub.
• We love our products! Get 40% of JoJo branded lines.
• Embrace an “It’s up to you” learning environment with ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Your furry friend doesn’t have to stay at home – our offices are dog friendly for friendly pooches.

We make happy and helpful clothes and products that let children be children – in all their silly, messy, adventurous, noisy, imaginative joy. But we’re not just about selling products; we’re about creating a warm, community-centric environment for our employees and our customers. From over 70 locations across the UK and Ireland and a thriving e-commerce platform, we offer a meticulously designed collection of children’s clothing, toys, and essentials designed with love and care: always with children at the forefront of our mind.

As a B Corp, our commitment goes beyond commerce, we strive for a sustainable future and take pride in our responsibilities to the planet and our communities. At JoJo, every role, every task and every day is an opportunity to support, inspire and contribute to the well-being of our teams and our customers.

We embrace and openly welcome people from different cultures, perspectives and experiences to create a diverse and enriched environment. We work hard to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people, regardless of background to make sure we grow our company sustainably and with different cultural influences. By encouraging a diverse and inclusive workforce, we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.