Assistant Buyer

• Location: Falmouth
• Contractual hours: 37.5
• Basis: Full Time
• Job category/type: Head office

Seasalt is a modern Cornish company with an ambitious vision. We are already established as a successful multi-channel UK retailer, with an international online presence, over 70 shops, and various partnerships and wholesale stockists. We're always challenging ourselves to think creatively and innovate and our next phase of growth will focus increasingly on opening up international markets, as well as domestic expansion.

As an Assistant Buyer you will support the Buyer for your categories throughout the buying cycle, to achieve agreed sales and profit targets. You will work closely with the Merchandising, Design and Technical teams to create the season’s range, ensuring that the product reflects the departmental strategy and that the season is logically and commercially thought through.

You’ll manage the Buying Admin Assistant’s workload and delegate tasks appropriately and you’ll also develop strong working relationships with all suppliers, ensuring that products developed promote Seasalt’s environmental and social standards.

This is a full time, permanent role and will be based at our head office locations in Falmouth and Redruth with occasional working from home or your chosen location (you must be based in the UK).

You'll help us by:

• Develop strong working relationships with all suppliers, ensuring that products developed promote Seasalt’s environmental and social standards
• Develop a clear understanding of the Seasalt customer and their needs
• Work alongside Buyer to achieve a working and productive critical path for department product lines
• Work closely with design and tech teams to ensure product sustainability targets are met while balancing quality requirement and margin targets
• Coach and mentor Buyers Administration Assistant (BAA), managing workload and delegating tasks appropriately
• Book and chair critical path team meetings with individual department members and communicate any information to Buyer and issue minutes
• Ensure all systems are up to date and correct to allow for other functions to complete tasks in good time
• Review weekly line reports and discuss opportunities with Buyer.
• Interpret sales performance/trading and produce ideas and solutions.
• Sample management including assisting with logging samples on to fit timetables and systems and preparing samples for meetings
• Attend weekly fit sessions
• Product change management including ensuring all functions necessary are notified of amendments to products during product lifeline
• Negotiate with suppliers to maximise margin and profit, whilst maintaining flexibility, quality and supplier relationships
• Challenge suppliers on critical path issues and negotiate lateness and losses with support from buyer
• Support quality control by working closely with technologist on any quality and delivery issues
• Research information and competitor activity to assist range building, product development and identify opportunities
• Support the Buyer with sustainability

The skills you'll be sharing with the team:

Proven experience as a BAA or another similar role is essential as is experience working with suppliers and negotiating. Not afraid of working under pressure and to deadlines, you’ll be highly organised, flexible, and able to manage competing priorities.

You’ll have excellent attention to detail, great teamwork skills and the ability to motivate both yourself and others.

With a love of product you will bring your passion and enthusiasm to your day to day role and help inspire others both within the product team and when communicating across departments.

You’ll have an interest in sustainability and a clear understanding of our Seasalt customer.

Why we hope you’ll love working with us: 

The success of Seasalt is down to the skill and hard work of our team. We don't just want to attract the best and brightest people to come and work with us, we want you to stay and grow with us. From the moment your Seasalt journey begins, it's our pledge to support you by providing dedicated learning and development opportunities that will enhance your day-to-day working life and help you build your skills and knowledge.

As well as doing everything we can to boost your development professionally, we believe encouraging personal growth is just as important. So you can fulfil your passion and purpose, not just at work but in life, we offer a range of benefits that are designed to enhance your career and wellbeing:

• Salary: up to £28,000pa depending on experience 
• 34 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing with length of service
• Attractive 50% employee discount 
• Flexible benefits allowance to personalise your benefits package
• Private Medical Scheme including 24/7 virtual GP
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme through Retail Trust with 24/7 support 
• Pension plan with generous 7% employer contributions
• Life assurance programme 
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Flexible working opportunities with our ‘blended’ working approach
• Learning and Development opportunities including specialist training, coaching opportunities, and professional qualification support
• Paid volunteering opportunities
• Employee networks to develop and provide support to our people, including the Inclusion Network and Culture Crew
• 100’s of savings on top retailers and gym memberships through our discount hub

At Seasalt we have a brilliant team of people – they're what make Seasalt a fantastic place to work. We love to celebrate uniqueness and are committed to making Seasalt a place where everyone feels they belong. As an inclusive employer, we want to invite a diverse range of candidates to apply for our roles.

We aim to work flexibly where possible and value a range of perspectives - diversity of thought helps us to grow – so please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come to work every day. We're happy to help with any adjustments to our recruitment process and beyond. Just drop us an email at careers@seasaltcornwall.co.uk