Senior Buyer (Love & Roses)

NEXT Wholly Owned Brands…

Our growing portfolio includes Lipsy, Love & Roses, Friends Like These, Beauty at NEXT and Seraphine — all available through next.co.uk, connecting with millions of customers across the UK and beyond.

At the heart of our business is a passionate team driven by creativity, innovation, and a shared ambition to deliver exceptional results. We foster a culture where individuality is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and challenging the status quo is part of how we grow.

Who are Love & Roses?

Love & Roses is for the woman who isn’t afraid to push boundaries, she’ll set her own trend, with unique styles, playful prints and fabulous fabrics at her core.

About the role…

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Buyer to lead our soft wovens department for Love & Roes. This is a key product area for the brand showcasing our beautiful prints. This would be a chance to collaborate with a passionate and creative team, contributing to category growth through strong commercial awareness, expert product knowledge and a sharp eye for trends to help shape a profitable and well-balanced range.

The Senior Buyer is responsible for proposing and gaining agreement on the strategic business plan for their department. You will lead the creation and delivery of a profitable, commercial range that maximises sales while achieving all profit parameters. As a senior leader, you provide high-level vision and mentorship to the team, ensuring performance is maximised across the brand.

You will be…

Strategy & Planning:

• Develop short-term and long-term department objectives alongside Merchandising to maximize profit, considering factors like markdown, promotional activity, and currency.
• Identify and focus on key department issues and opportunities to drive overall brand profit performance.
• Propose brand and product development initiatives outside your own department based on economic, social, and fashion trends.
• Anticipate the commercial impact of decisions on the brand and wider business.

Range Planning & Development

• Lead the team in proposing seasonal direction, range structure, price architecture, and critical paths.
• Build a commercial and inspirational range by identifying key trends from catwalks, street style, and blogs, adapting them for the specific brand customer.
• Review and plan future supplier strategy with Merchandising and Design, identifying new sourcing requirements and optimizing the use of trials and late buys.
• Present range proposals effectively in selection meetings to gain senior management commitment.

Trading & Supplier Management

• Negotiate prices and agree on supplier contracts to meet departmental targets and margin requirements.
• Manage and attend weekly trade meetings, identifying late buys and reacting to sales to ensure the range remains commercial.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to effectively manage issues such as quality, costs, and late deliveries.
• Appraise the supply base in conjunction with Technical and Design teams to make recommendations on the future direction of the business.

Team Leadership & Influence

• Manage and motivate the team (including Assistant and Junior Buyers) to maximize performance through regular reviews and coaching.
• Delegate tasks effectively to ensure workload is appropriately distributed and deadlines are met.
• Actively seek and build relationships outside your immediate circle to gain insight into competitor activity and share findings with the team.
• Challenge existing processes and deliver improvements to drive the business forward.

Your talent…

• Extensive experience and knowledge of soft wovens womenswear, operating at an established/ senior level within a successful high street/premium retailer
• Proven experience in strategically managing and developing a team of direct reports.
• Demonstrable ability to operate at a senior management level, managing significant commercial P&L accountability.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and team development skills.
• Excellent negotiating skills and the ability to manage complex supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical skills and a profit-focused mindset.
• Ability to travel as required for supplier visits and trend sourcing.

Diversity & Inclusion

We recognise that our differences are what make us who we are. We want people to want to work for us and be their true selves. We are dedicated to attracting and developing a talent team, and recognise that all unique backgrounds and experiences contribute to our future success.

We want to create an inclusive and inspiring environment where individuals feel valued and respected, and where people can achieve their full potential and be their very best, whoever they are.

Wellbeing

We believe that wellbeing is having the opportunity to achieve your full potential, cope with day to day pressures, be productive and thrive in all aspects of your life. We encourage a culture that promotes and enables us all to achieve positive wellbeing, by focusing on mental, physical and financial health.

Benefits