Buying Manager - Sports, Leisure and Outdoors

As Buying Manager - Sports, Leisure and Outdoors, you'll lead a portfolio spanning categories that inspire fun, enable adventure, support everyday projects and connect customers with the products they love. Reporting to the division's General Manager Buying, you'll set strategic category direction, articulate vision and lead a team of product experts / Buyers (circa 7 direct reports), driving the commercial decisions that deliver growth, customer value and long-term business success.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute portfolio and category strategies aligned to customer, brand and business objectives; Lead financial performance across sales, margin, markdown and profitability targets; Identify growth opportunities, emerging trends and competitive advantages; Build and manage strategic supplier partnerships that deliver innovation, value and commercial outcomes; Partner closely with Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing, Stores and Finance to deliver end-to-end commercial and project success; Lead, coach and develop a team of Buyers (circa 7 direct reports), creating a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement; Drive commercial governance, trading rhythms and performance reviews to ensure strong execution across the division

Requirements

Significant experience in a Senior/Lead Buyer, Buying Manager or similar commercial leadership role; Demonstrated success managing portfolio-level sales, margin and profit performance; Expertise in category strategy, commercial performance, supplier negotiations and internal investment committees; Experience leading high-performing buying teams and developing future talent; Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross-functionally, and vertically across multiple functions; Deep commercial acumen and a customer-first approach to decision making; A passion for retail, market trends and creating compelling customer propositions

Nice to have

Category expertise in Sporting, Fitness, the Outdoors, and Gardening

Benefits

Discounts across our brands; Birthday leave and charity day off; 26 weeks paid parental leave; Free parking and EV charging at North Shore support office; 1 day (Friday) work from home; Onsite gym and café at Northcote support office; A range of wellbeing support and development opportunities