📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Buyer, Own Brand Babywear and Childrenswear
🔹 Company: John Lewis Partnership
🔹 Location: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
🔹 Job Type: Temporary
🔹 Category: Retail
🔹 Date Posted: July 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days per week in the office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Planning and delivering the best range and proposition for customers within the babywear and childrenswear category
- Delivering agreed KPIs including sales, profit, stock, and margin
- Independently managing supplier relationships through strategic commercial negotiations
- Collaborating with merchandisers, design, and sourcing teams to develop market-leading assortments
- Managing a team of Buying Assistants, creating conditions for them to thrive
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of autonomy and strategic thinking, with a focus on delivering results through effective planning and negotiation.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Support the Buying Manager in creating conditions for all Partners to thrive and achieve their potential
✅ Responsible for all commercial negotiations, inclusive of marketing funds
✅ Support the Buying Manager in building a category and propositional strategy
✅ Develop and buy market-leading ranges, managing product lifecycle from launch to exit
✅ Collaborate with specialist functions to plan and develop ranges, and to develop a sourcing strategy for the product assortment
✅ Collaborate with merchandisers to prepare and share the Standardised Range Plan, and to sign off product ranges and branch grading
✅ Propose Balance To Achieve across commercial KPIs for the assortment each month in collaboration with the Merchandiser
ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic planning, hands-on buying, and team management, with a strong focus on delivering results and driving growth within the category.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Relevant degree or equivalent experience
Experience: Proven extensive experience in the retail industry, with a focus on buying, category management, or product management within the designated category
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in buying practices, merchandising strategies, and supplier negotiations
- In-depth knowledge and expertise within the babywear and childrenswear category
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
Preferred Skills:
- Category-specific knowledge, passion, or experience
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in retail buying, with a proven track record of delivering results and managing supplier relationships.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £54,500 - £84,100 per year
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- Opportunities for career progression and development
- Hybrid working arrangement
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a flexible working pattern
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is competitive for the retail industry and reflects the level of experience and responsibility required for this role.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail, specifically in the babywear and childrenswear sector
Company Size: 10,001+ employees, providing a large and diverse range of opportunities for growth and development
Founded: The John Lewis Partnership was founded in 1929, with a rich history and strong brand reputation
Company Description:
- Employee-owned business with a strong focus on customer service and quality
- Home to cherished brands John Lewis and Waitrose
- Driven by a purpose to build a happier world
Company Specialties:
- Retail
- Online
- Distribution
- Finance
- Technology
- IT
- Digital
- Hotels
- Personnel
- Buying
- and Marketing
Company Website: http://www.jlpjobs.com
ASSUMPTION: The John Lewis Partnership is a well-established and respected retailer, offering a range of opportunities for career growth and development within the retail industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior, with opportunities for progression within the category and the wider business
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Buying Manager, with responsibility for a team of Buying Assistants
Work Arrangement: Hybrid working arrangement, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression within the buying team or into other categories
- Opportunities to work on special projects and initiatives
- Access to training and development programs to support career growth
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a range of opportunities for career progression and development, both within the buying team and the wider business.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Head office environment, with a focus on collaboration and teamwork
Office Location(s): London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
Geographic Context:
- London is a vibrant and multicultural city, offering a wide range of cultural, social, and recreational opportunities
- The office is located in the Pimlico area, with easy access to public transportation and local amenities
- The office is a modern and collaborative workspace, designed to support teamwork and innovation
Work Schedule: Flexible working pattern, with a focus on delivering results and meeting deadlines
ASSUMPTION: The office environment is designed to support collaboration and teamwork, with a focus on delivering results and driving growth within the category.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and CV screening
- Phone or video interview with the hiring manager
- Face-to-face interview with the hiring manager and a member of the HR team
- Final interview with the Head of Category
Key Assessment Areas:
- Retail industry experience and category expertise
- Negotiation skills and commercial acumen
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and team management skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare examples of your negotiation skills and commercial achievements
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding of the business and the category
ATS Keywords: Buying, Category Management, Retail Industry Experience, Negotiation Skills, Commercial Acumen, Team Management
ASSUMPTION: The application process is designed to assess your relevant experience and skills, with a focus on your ability to deliver results and drive growth within the category.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Retail-specific software and systems (e.g., merchandising, planning, and buying tools)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack)
ASSUMPTION: The role requires a strong understanding of retail-specific software and systems, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Brilliant at Retail
- Never Knowingly Undersold
- Passionately Serving Food Lovers
- Building a Happier World
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-focused
- Results-driven and commercially astute
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate the company's values in your work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your role or the market?
- How do you approach building and maintaining effective relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: The John Lewis Partnership values a collaborative and results-driven work style, with a strong focus on delivering excellent customer service and driving growth within the category.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team of Buying Assistants, balancing their priorities and workloads
- Navigating a large and complex organization, with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
- Adapting to a hybrid working arrangement, balancing remote and in-office work
- Delivering results and driving growth within a competitive and dynamic retail market
ASSUMPTION: The role presents a range of challenges, from managing a team and navigating a complex organization to delivering results in a competitive retail market.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on the babywear and childrenswear category, with a broader scope of responsibilities compared to other buying roles within the John Lewis Partnership
- Compared to other retail buying roles, this position offers a higher level of autonomy and strategic influence within the category
- Career progression opportunities are similar to other buying roles within the John Lewis Partnership, with potential for growth within the category or into other areas of the business
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to drive growth and innovation within the babywear and childrenswear category, with a broad scope of responsibilities and a high level of autonomy.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and launching a new range of babywear products, from initial concept to in-store and online availability
- Negotiating marketing fund agreements with suppliers to maximize value and profitability for the category
- Collaborating with merchandisers to optimize product assortment and allocation, driving sales and profitability
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects reflect the broad scope of responsibilities and strategic influence of the role, from product development and launch to commercial negotiation and optimization.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does this role fit into the broader category strategy and the John Lewis Partnership's overall retail strategy?
- What opportunities are there for career progression and development within the buying team and the wider business?
- How does the hybrid working arrangement support work-life balance and collaboration within the team?
- What are the key challenges facing the babywear and childrenswear category, and how can this role drive growth and innovation within the market?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions are designed to assess the strategic fit of the role, the opportunities for career progression, and the work-life balance offered by the hybrid working arrangement.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through http://www.jlpjobs.com
- Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills
- Prepare examples of your negotiation skills and commercial achievements
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding of the business and the category
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your final interview to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
