Buying Manager

THE OPPORTUNITY
We’re excited to be recruiting for a Buying Manager to play a key role in shaping and delivering our buying strategy across our brands. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially driven buying leader who combines a passion for product with strong strategic thinking, a sharp eye for opportunity and the ability to turn business objectives into commercially successful collections.

Working closely with the Senior Buying Manager and our wider product teams, you’ll lead seasonal buying plans, drive category performance and oversee the development and delivery of our ranges, ensuring every collection reflects our brand direction and customer needs. You’ll also lead and develop the Buying team, setting clear priorities, building capability and creating an environment where collaboration, accountability and great ideas can flourish.

If you’re an experienced Buying Manager with a background in fashion, jewellery, accessories or a related industry, this could be the perfect next step in your career!

The role is Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. You’ll enjoy the exciting buzz of our stunning head office in Banbury, Oxfordshire, spending an average of three days a week in the office, with the flexibility to work from home on the remaining days. During key seasonal sign-off periods, you’ll also need to be in the office for full weeks to support collaboration and decision-making.

BEHIND THE BRANDS

We’re a family-run, entrepreneurial company with an exciting pace of life and a bright and friendly team. We are passionate about creating stunning products with a personal touch and innovating our business behind the scenes. We value creativity, collaboration and integrity.

HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE

Key Responsibilities

Buying & Category Management

• Deliver the agreed buying strategy across allocated brands and categories, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives and brand direction.

• Develop and manage seasonal buying plans in line with budgets, category targets and range requirements.

• Work closely with the Senior Buying Manager to identify growth opportunities, product extensions and ways to strengthen the overall product offer.

• Analyse sales performance, customer behaviour, market trends and competitor activity to inform buying decisions.

• Identify commercial opportunities and product risks, recommending actions to improve category performance.

Product Range Development & Commercial Delivery

• Work collaboratively with Product Design and Merchandising to develop balanced, customer-focused ranges that reflect brand identity and category strategy.

• Lead seasonal range builds, balancing core products, newness, opening price points, premium and hero products within the agreed range and pricing architecture.

• Ensure buying and product development decisions deliver margin targets, quality standards and customer value.

• Review product costs and identify opportunities to improve profitability without compromising quality, design or brand perception.

• Prepare and contribute to seasonal range reviews, presenting product recommendations, commercial analysis and opportunities to the Senior Buying Manager and wider product teams.

• Continuously review and optimise product ranges, identifying opportunities to improve product mix, performance and profitability.

Supplier Management & Sourcing

• Manage supplier relationships, ensuring strong performance across product quality, cost, development, lead times and delivery.

• Build collaborative supplier partnerships that support product innovation, quality improvements and commercial objectives.

• Lead supplier negotiations within agreed parameters to improve costs, margins and overall supplier performance.

• Monitor supplier KPIs, proactively addressing issues and implementing improvements.

• Support the Senior Buying Manager in identifying and evaluating new suppliers, materials, manufacturing capabilities and sourcing opportunities.

• Ensure suppliers meet quality, compliance and ethical sourcing requirements, escalating significant risks where appropriate.

• Monitor category performance, including sales, margin, product profitability and sell-through, identifying risks and opportunities.

Commercial Performance

• Work closely with Merchandising to review trading performance and recommend appropriate commercial actions.

• Prepare and present category performance updates, product analysis and recommendations at weekly, monthly and seasonal meetings.

• Support delivery of agreed category KPIs, ensuring buying decisions contribute to overall commercial performance.

• Identify opportunities to optimise ranges, improve margins and strengthen the customer offer.

Critical Path & Product Delivery

• Manage the day-to-day Buying Critical Path, ensuring product development milestones are achieved and collections are delivered on time.

• Work closely with Product Design, Merchandising and Purchasing/Logistics to maintain alignment throughout the product lifecycle.

• Identify critical path risks, resolve operational issues and escalate significant challenges to the Senior Buying Manager with recommended solutions.

• Ensure product development, sampling, costing, approvals and supplier commitments are managed against agreed deadlines.

• Drive improvements in buying processes, supplier communication and ways of working to improve efficieny and delivery.

Product Quality & Compliance

• Ensure products meet agreed quality, design, safety and compliance standards throughout development.

• Oversee sample reviews and approvals, working with Product Design to resolve quality or execution issues.

• Work with suppliers and internal teams to address quality concerns and implement corrective actions.

• Ensure compliance requirements and approvals are completed before production, escalating significant quality, compliance or commercial risks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships with Product Design, Merchandising, Operations, Creative, Ecommerce and other relevant teams.

• Communicate buying decisions, product changes, delivery risks and commercial implications clearly across departments.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve challenges, maintain critical path momentum and support successful product launches.

• Contribute commercial insight to discussions, ensuring decisions remain customer-focused and commercially sound.

Leadership & Team Development

• Manage, coach and develop the Buying team, creating a high-performing, accountable and collaborative environment.

• Set clear priorities, objectives and performance expectations to ensure the team delivers against deadlines and KPIs.

• Provide regular feedback, coaching and development opportunities, conducting performance reviews and supporting individual development plans.

• Plan workloads, delegate responsibilities and manage resources effectively across the team.

• Promote ownership, continuous improvement, collaboration and customer-first decision-making.

• Support the Senior Buying Manager in delivering departmental priorities, process improvements and wider Buying initiatives.

THE TALENT YOU'LL BRING

• Proven experience as a Senior Buyer or Buying Manager within retail, ideally specialising in accessories, lifestyle or jewellery; candidates with a womenswear background may also be considered.

• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in product range development, supplier management, cost negotiation and margin delivery.

• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret sales data, product performance and market trends to make informed commercial recommendations.

• Strong understanding of buying processes, critical path management, product development and supplier performance.

• Experience managing, coaching and developing a team, with the ability to motivate others and drive accountability.

• Confident communicator with strong influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Proficient in Excel and Power BI, with the ability to analyse data and present clear commercial insights.

• Working knowledge of product compliance, quality and sourcing requirements.

• A genuine passion for fashion, accessories, product innovation and customer-led product development.

• Proactive and solutions-focused, with the confidence to take ownership of operational challenges and recognise when strategic decisions need to be escalated.

PERFECTLY PACKAGED

• A competitive salary

• 33 days holiday rising to 35 with length of service inclusive of bank holiday

• A broad benefits package including our staff favourite – a very generous staff discount across both our brands. See all of our benefits on our careers portal

• Opportunities to make an impact as well as learn and develop further

• An innovative and friendly workplace with a team we’re proud to be part of. Find out more about us and our culture on our careers portal

Joma Jewellery was founded in 2008 by Katie and Geoff Loxton, since then we have gone from strength to strength, launching Katie Loxton in 2015 and growing our business beyond the UK. We know that part of that growth comes from the fact that we take diversity and inclusion very seriously. We strive to be the best in our field, and we know that happens by hiring a diverse team and encouraging everyone to be their authentic selves when working with us. We don’t hire based on cultures, preferences, or personalities – it’s what you bring to the team that counts.

We are always striving to improve our way of working to be more inclusive, diverse and equal, including encouraging all team members to bring their ideas to the table as we know this is key to our continued success.