Job Description

Merchandise Admin Assistant

The Merchandising Administration Assistant will support the team by providing administrative support and contributing to the Buying process. This will be a key role to support the Buying team drive the performance against sales and margin targets, maximizing in-season opportunities and affecting future inventory.

Responsibilities

Functional Roles and Responsibilities

  • Ensuring all necessary records, files and databases are maintained accurately and updated in a timely manner.
  • Creating new items, and purchase orders and maintaining cost and retail price changes.
  • Ensuring timely entering of all seasonal orders, to meet requested deadlines. In addition, checking and providing overviews/ summaries of all orders placed.
  • Validating of order confirmations against invoices and orders.
  • Maintain the product hierarchy; ensuring product data is accurate and consistent.
  • Create the master file ensuring accurate and correct data enrichment.
  • Ensure supplier setup is complete including estimated landed costs.
  • Provide finance department with details for drafting letters of credit and submit for supplier approval.
  • Check all supplier order confirmation details received are correct, support the Buyers to resolve any queries with the supplier, buying and finance in a timely fashion to adhere to any supplier deadlines.
  • Manage all aspects relating to the shipments and logistical processing.
  • Manage return to vendor requests (RTV’s), ensuring effective communication to suppliers.
  • Produce weekly % shipped report. Ensure PO shipment trackers are maintained, delivery dates managed and deviances are escalated to buyers and planners. Highlight any possible risks and reasons for delays.
  • Coordinate shipments with suppliers and Al Tayer logistics to ensure timely deliveries.
  • Track and manage special orders and customer requests.
  • Update delivery schedule and communicate to the buyers and planners on a weekly basis.

Qualifications

Education/Certification and Continued Education

  • A Bachelor’s degree in any related field is a requirement.

Years of Experience

  • Minimum 2 years of buying merchandise / planning experience in fashion/luxury retail.

Knowledge and Skills

  • Strong understanding of Merchandising financials.
  • Advanced computer skills in Excel and MS Office.
  • Numerate with strong analytical skills and financial acumen.
  • Excellent communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
  • Aptitude to function within deadlines, while working both independently and as part of a team.
  • Ability to recognize, analyze and quantify market trends.
  • Ability to work independently and proactively, with excellent attention to detail.
  • Able to successfully manage and execute priorities in a timely manner within a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
  • Demonstrate ability to build and foster productive working relationships with cross-functional teams and vendors.

Languages

  • Proficient in the English Language.

Additional Requirements

  • Product / brand orientation with good knowledge of fashion industry and benchmarks.
  • Stakeholder management skills to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and counterparts.
  • Commercial skills with the ability to identify opportunities and potential business risks.