Senior Buyer – Footwear at Debenhams
About Debenhams
Debenhams has been a leading retailer in the UK since 1778, evolving from our high‑street roots to today’s online department store. We continue to shape the retail landscape through designer collaborations and brand launches, while staying true to our heritage and the strong brand love people hold for us.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced and creative Senior Buyer – Footwear to lead the development and delivery of our occasion‑wear footwear offering across a portfolio of leading brands. As Senior Buyer, you will own the end‑to‑end buying process, work closely with key brand partners, and drive strategy across product, margin, pricing and supplier relationships. You should thrive in a fast‑paced environment, translate elevated trends into commercially successful products, and confidently lead negotiations and cross‑functional strategy.
What You Will Be Doing
* Lead the buying strategy for occasion footwear across multiple Debenhams brands, ensuring ranges are trend‑driven, innovative and customer‑focused.
* Build strong relationships with suppliers and global sourcing partners, negotiating costs, terms and exclusives to drive margin and value.
* Oversee product development from concept through to sign‑off, ensuring quality, fit and detailing meet brand standards.
* Monitor sales performance, key KPIs and market trends to optimise range planning, forecasting and in‑season trading.
* Ensure all product aligns with seasonal direction, customer insights, sustainability considerations and critical path milestones.
* Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Design, Marketing and E‑commerce teams to deliver impactful collections and launches.
* Champion continuous improvement across buying processes, product strategy and supply‑chain efficiency.
* Act as a senior leader within the category, coaching Junior Buyers/ABs and elevating ways of working.
What You Can Bring
* Significant experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within footwear, with occasion wear and dress footwear experience preferred.
* A proven track record of building compelling, commercial product ranges that outperform targets.
* Deep understanding of footwear construction, materials, fit, pricing and manufacturing.
* Strong negotiation skills and confidence managing global suppliers across multiple territories.
* Excellent commercial awareness, trend interpretation and customer insight.
* Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced digital retail environment with shifting priorities.
* A collaborative mindset – strong communicator and relationship‑builder across all levels.
* Creative, proactive and able to balance big‑picture strategy with meticulous attention to detail.
Why Join Us
* Opportunity to participate in share schemes.
* Flexible core hours that can be adapted to personal needs on an ad‑hoc basis.
* Benefits that support health and wellbeing.
* Up to 40 % discount across all brands.
* Engaging social calendar, high‑energy environment and a culture that values teamwork.
* HQs in Manchester and London with offices worldwide.
Additional Information
Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Purchasing and Supply Chain
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
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