The role holder is responsible for implementing and executing as per the strategic buying plans for the assigned brand/category. The role holder also ensures smooth buying operations through vendor identification, evaluation and selection, in compliance with the contract principles to achieve the strategic and financial objectives of the brand/category of products.

Core Responsibilities:

• Analyzes historical data and current trends to identify current and future risks and opportunities
• Helps the business unit meet the profit targets by ensuring timely procurement of the department/category merchandise
• Assists in creating clear, comprehensive brand/category plans to ensure profitability by maintaining and building consumer focused brand/category lines
• Places orders with the selected vendor(s) based on the buying plans and ensures merchandise is delivered as per the plan based on the agreed service level agreement
• Recaps and analyzes actual sales results to plan and forecast in-season sales/inventories on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis to drive sales, bottom-line profitability and inventory targets to meet or exceed financial goals
• Prepares periodic reports on sales turnover and customer trends per product to arrive at decision to maintain, liquidate or dispose-off the stock, and-or continue/discontinue the product line
• Communicates, collates and follows-up on various product requirements and findings obtained from the sales/store data
• Identifies buying opportunities to source products and to ensure that Business maintains its competitive edge by constant renegotiation
• Maintains vendor contacts; ensures product demonstrations, procures product samples and literature in order to help the senior buyer take appropriate decision
• Executes as per the financial and credit services agreement with the vendor that maximizes profit and positively contributes to cash flow
• Tracks the merchandise transportation from supplier to warehouse/distribution center and ensure smooth flow of good
• Executes reverse logistics guidelines to send the faulty/damaged goods back to the vendor.
• Assist in generating periodic reports on consumer behavior, consumer trends per product etc. to facilitate decisions to maintain, liquidate or dispose-off products or continue/discontinue with the brand/category lines

REQUIREMENTS

Educational Qualifications and Certificates

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management/Buying and Merchandising or its equivalent

Experience

• A minimum of 1-3 years of relevant experience as a product buyer with a large retail organization

Skills

Language skills

• Fluent in English skills (written and spoken)

Additional skills

• Planning and Organizing
• Data Gathering and analysis
• MS Office and Tools
• Knowledge of ERP (relevant

Key Interactions

Internal Interactions

• Area Manager (s)
• Category/brand management function
• Finance
• Warehousing and Logistics External Interactions
• Principal/supplier

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Established in 1978, by the Baker family who still own and manage the company today, Gulf Marketing Group is one of the Middle East's leading, family owned companies. Gulf Marketing Group operates regionally, across the GCC and boasts a diverse portfolio of brands, retail outlets and services. Gulf Marketing Group subsidiaries operate in key sectors such as retail and distribution of sporting goods and lifestyle brands, health and fitness, food and food processing, integrated 3PL logistics, real estate, healthcare and pharmacies, education and technology. Since 1978, Gulf Marketing Group has introduced more than 90 international brands into the Middle East, as well as building the reputation of our homegrown brands as reliable and quality driven companies.

We are proud to be one of the top 10 retailers in the Gulf region with:

• More than three decades experience managing international brands in local environments
• A prestigious portfolio of world class brand partners
• Anchor tenancy in all major GCC shopping malls
• A proven track record of securing exclusive retail and distributor agreements