Category Buyer - Women's Mainstream

About the role

The Iconic is looking for a Category Buyer to manage the Women's Mainstream accessories segment. You will curate product ranges, negotiate with vendors, and use data to drive commercial performance within our e-commerce platform. In this capacity, you will own the end-to-end commercial lifecycle of your assigned categories, translating business objectives into tangible actions that directly influence revenue and profitability. You will be responsible for researching market trends to inform intelligent brand and product selection, ensuring the assortment remains fresh and relevant to the customer. Success in this role requires a disciplined approach to managing inventory levels to balance stock availability with financial efficiency and reduce the risk of obsolescence. You will evaluate vendor performance comprehensively, overseeing onboarding, managing relationships, and executing exits or deactivations where necessary. Furthermore, you will negotiate contract terms for both wholesale and commission-based platform vendors to secure optimal commercial conditions. Ultimately, this position is pivotal in maintaining accurate records, including SKU lists, brand plans, and department matrices to ensure clarity and accountability.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute company-wide strategies and OKRs to meet business goals by translating high-level objectives into actionable category plans.
• Research market trends to inform brand and product selection, analyzing competitor activity and consumer demand signals to identify opportunities.
• Manage inventory levels to ensure stock availability while optimizing turnover rates and minimizing excess stock or potential shortages.
• Evaluate vendor performance, including onboarding new partners, managing existing relationships, and executing exiting or deactivating brands based on key metrics.
• Negotiate contract terms for both wholesale and commission-based platform vendors to achieve favorable margin, delivery, and payment conditions.
• Maintain accurate records, including SKU lists, brand plans, and department matrices, ensuring all documentation is current and easily accessible for reporting.
• Analyze data to identify cost savings and propose procurement strategies, leveraging insights to improve product mix and profitability.
• Collaborate with marketing to coordinate promotional activities and go-to-market plans, ensuring alignment between sales campaigns and inventory positioning.
• Mentor junior staff members, providing guidance, support, and feedback to develop team capability and drive overall commercial excellence.
• Ensure all vendor contracts and internal policies are strictly followed to mitigate risk and maintain compliance across all commercial operations.

Requirements

• Prior experience as a Buyer in a high-volume retail environment, demonstrating a proven track record in managing large and diverse product categories.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, specifically pivot tables and v-lookups, required to manipulate large datasets and generate actionable insights.
• Strong attention to detail regarding contract terms and conditions to ensure accuracy and compliance in all commercial documentation.
• Ability to interpret data trends to make informed business decisions that impact assortment, pricing, and inventory health.
• Excellent communication skills for internal and external stakeholder management, fostering productive relationships with vendors and cross-functional teams.
• Strong time management and organizational abilities to juggle multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A genuine interest in women's fashion, ensuring passion and credibility when curating products that resonate with the target customer.
• Eligibility to live and work in Australia without the need for sponsorship, as this role is based in Sydney and requires immediate availability.
• Commitment to adhering to the company's code of conduct and ethical standards in all commercial and vendor interactions.
• Willingness to engage in regular travel within the Sydney metropolitan area as required for meetings, vendor visits, and warehouse checks.

Nice to have

• Experience working with e-commerce platforms and retail technology systems to streamline processes and improve data accuracy.
• Understanding of the wholesale and consignment models specific to the fashion and accessories sector.
• Familiarity with inventory management software or tools used for forecasting and replenishment.
• Previous involvement in mentoring or coaching junior team members in a commercial or retail setting.
• Knowledge of sustainable and ethical sourcing practices within the fashion industry.

Practical notes

• This role offers hybrid working arrangements, providing flexibility between remote work and office-based collaboration.
• Benefits include staff discounts, sample sales, LinkedIn Learning access, parental leave, birthday leave, and discounted gym memberships.
• The company provides an Employee Assistance Program and volunteer days with Thread Together.
• For accessibility support or recruitment adjustments, contact talent.attraction@theiconic.com.au.