Head Of Buying @home

Responsibilities

• Set and execute the Homeware buying and design strategy for @home (Textiles and Kitchen, Dining & Appliances) in line with the Home Stack Brands & Merchandise strategy.
• Deliver turnover growth and gross margin through strong range planning, Good/Better/Best price architecture, pricing and in-season trade actions.
• Lead trend, design and product development to land a distinct, design-led @home proposition and grow the own-brand mix.
• Lead the turnaround and growth of underperforming categories through a customer-led product strategy, improved buying and design processes and market share growth.
• Partner with Tapestry manufacturing to bring linen and textile ranges into our own factories, and set the sourcing strategy that balances make, direct-import and buy decisions for each category.
• Build and manage strategic local and offshore supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms in line with margin, quality, service and responsible sourcing targets.
• Partner with Planning and E-commerce to optimise stock investment, availability, stock turn and clearance across store and online channels.
• Collaborate across Marketing, Online, Visual Merchandising, Retail Operations, Logistics and Finance to deliver aligned, omnichannel outcomes.
• Work across the Home Stack category engine, sharing suppliers, sourcing and buying leverage with Volpes, Coricraft and other Home brands.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis, local and international benchmarking and buying trips to inform seasonal direction.
• Maintain a weekly, monthly and quarterly financial cadence to drive sales, GP%, GMROI, stock turn and clearance.
• Lead, develop and retain buying managers, buyers, the Trend Lead, designers and product developers, building a strong talent and succession pipeline.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or diploma in Fashion or Product Design, Buying and Merchandising, Commerce, Retail Management or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years' retail buying, merchandise and sourcing experience, including 5+ years at Head of Buying or Buying Manager level with proven people leadership.
• Proven track record of leading large, multi-category portfolios (R1 billion+) with accountability for turnover, gross margin, stock investment and market share.
• Demonstrated success in category turnaround and transformation, revitalising underperforming categories and growing market share through a customer-led product strategy.
• Proven experience leading private label (own brand) product from concept to shelf, working closely with Trend, Design, Product Development and Technical teams.
• Strong sourcing background, including direct imports and strategic local and offshore supplier partnerships, with exposure to own manufacturing an advantage.
• Experience across both premium and value retail environments, with the ability to build Good/Better/Best ranges that serve a broad customer base.
• Homeware or textiles experience (bed, bath, home furnishings, kitchen, dining or appliances) will be an advantage.
• Proven track record of building, coaching and developing high-performing teams, including succession planning and Employment Equity transformation.

SKILLS

• Strong design eye and trend-led thinking, translating trend, colour and fabric direction into distinctive, commercially viable ranges.
• Brand stewardship: building a distinct product handwriting that strengthens brand positioning and the customer proposition.
• Range building and assortment architecture (Good/Better/Best), balancing trend, quality, fit, value and commercial performance.
• End-to-end product development, product testing, quality and critical-path management to improve speed to market.
• Strategic sourcing and supplier development: supplier consolidation, capability building, performance metrics and contract/terms negotiation (local and offshore).
• Responsible and ethical sourcing aligned to sustainability standards.
• Commercial acumen and trade management, including Open-to-Buy, inventory investment, markdown optimisation and foreign exchange management for imported merchandise.
• Data-driven category management using customer insight, market and competitor analysis to drive KPIs (sales growth, GP%, GMROI, stock turn, clearance).
• Ability to lead change and process improvement, and influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with Design, Planning, Sourcing, Technical, Marketing and Operations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, under pressure and to tight deadlines.

BEHAVIOURS

• Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
• Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
• Ensures Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets