Assistant Category Buyer - Menswear (12 Month Maximum Term Contract)

About THE ICONIC

Since its inception in 2011, THE ICONIC has transformed the retail landscape across Australia and New Zealand. It stands as the leading fashion e-commerce and lifestyle platform in the region, offering a seamless and inspiring end-to-end customer experience enabled by innovative proprietary technology.

The Commercial team at THE ICONIC combines data analytics, product knowledge, and trend insights with a customer-first mindset, continuously curating a forward-thinking, fashion-focused platform. The Category Buying team collaborates closely with the Planning team to drive sales, optimize profitability, manage inventory intake, and ensure that curated fashion ranges engage the customer effectively.

Role Overview

As an Assistant Category Buyer within the Menswear division, reporting directly to the Category Buyer, you will play a vital role in supporting the department's strategic vision, vision and budget planning, and sales growth aligned to the overall commercial strategy of THE ICONIC. This position is a twelve-month maximum term contract based in Sydney, NSW.

Core Responsibilities

• Champion company-wide strategies and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to support business goals.
• Assist in procurement activities within the menswear category.
• Collaborate with Category Buyer and Senior Category Buyer to closely monitor stock levels, ensuring adequate inventory is maintained.
• Resolve discrepancies or issues relating to orders, invoices, or deliveries in partnership with Category Administration and vendor contacts.
• Engage in vendor communications to address order, delivery, and invoice matters.
• Interpret sales data and market trends to inform purchasing decisions and category strategies.
• Build and maintain partnerships with suppliers to achieve shared objectives and foster strong vendor relationships.
• Evaluate vendor performance regularly, participating in vendor selection, deactivation, or exit processes as needed.
• Negotiate favorable contract terms with both commission-based (Platform) and Open-To-Buy (Wholesale) vendors.
• Identify supply chain challenges through quality assurance assessments and collaborate across teams to mitigate risks.
• Ensure strict adherence to company policies and compliance with industry regulations.
• Manage vendor administration accurately and maintain up-to-date records.
• Continuously identify opportunities to enhance the customer experience online by utilizing customer-focused insights.
• Support internal stakeholder relationships including those with Marketing, Vendor Management, Operations, and Finance to achieve seamless operations.
• Demonstrate professionalism through clear, concise communication.
• Adapt to evolving market conditions and embrace continuous learning and new approaches.
• Carry out additional tasks as reasonably requested by management.

Candidate Profile and Qualifications

• Possess a minimum of two years of experience in an Assistant Buyer role within a high-volume retail environment.
• Strong communication and negotiation capabilities.
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Effective time management abilities with the capacity to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-moving setting.
• Proficiency in software tools such as Jira, Excel, Business Intelligence platforms, Business Central (BC), and knowledge of API integrations and platform software is highly preferred.
• Understanding of relevant industry regulations and compliance standards.

Benefits of Working at THE ICONIC

• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid models to support work-life balance.
• Access to continuous learning opportunities such as learning days, hackathons, and comprehensive e-learning resources.
• Supportive programs for parents including extended parental leave and an extra day off annually for children's first day of school.
• Birthday leave and a voucher to celebrate your special day.
• Attractive employee discounts and access to exclusive sample sales to suit any personal style.
• Health and wellness initiatives such as a Fitness Passport and wellbeing programs.
• Employee Assistance Program available to support the wellbeing of employees and their families.

Additional Notes

Adaptations and assistance during the recruitment process are available upon request to ensure accessibility for all applicants.

Applicants are encouraged to apply even if they do not fulfill all the listed criteria, as growth and learning within the role are supported.