Assistant Buyer - Knitwear

The Role: 

As an Assistant Buyer at New Look, you’ll be at the heart of delivering product our customers love. Supporting your Buyer, you’ll help bring creative ideas to life while balancing commercial priorities to build exciting, trend-led ranges. You’ll work closely with suppliers in the UK and internationally, as well as with teams across Design, Merchandising and Technical, to ensure product is delivered on time, on trend and at great value. Fast-paced, hands-on and full of variety, this is the perfect role for someone passionate about product, customers and the world of fashion retail.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU:

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Private pension scheme
• Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

What you’ll be doing:

Planning & Strategy

• Immerse yourself in the Business Strategy and use it to drive your department forward.
• Stay ahead of market trends and customer insights to guide product decisions.

• Understand your department’s customer, market share and opportunities to help drive success.
• Work closely with Marketing and Ecommerce to support windows, photoshoots, and other campaigns.
• Assist in preparing for Department Strategy Planning, contributing fresh ideas and insight.

Buying & Product Development

• Support the product journey from design brief to launch, collaborating with Design, Marketing and wider teams.
• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve the best cost prices and hit margin targets.
• Spot trends and translate them into commercial, customer-focused product.
• Keep data and systems up to date, including Assortment Planning tools.
• Choose the right sourcing routes and suppliers for each product.
• Monitor the critical path to ensure intake and distribution targets are met.
• Attend fit sessions in the Buyer’s absence and provide styling and product feedback.

Suppliers & Relationships

• Build strong supplier relationships, managing KPIs and ensuring sampling requirements are met.
• Negotiate and liaise effectively with suppliers to deliver quality product on time.

Trading & Analysis

• Monitor trade reports and take action where needed to maximise sales.
• Adapt plans quickly to respond to market changes and challenges.
• Share insights on products, suppliers, and best/worst sellers to inform decisions.
• Keep an eye on competitors through ongoing analysis and action where appropriate.

Team & Collaboration

• Support the development of colleagues, providing training and guidance where needed.
• Work collaboratively with Merchandising, Design and Technical teams.
• Be a positive role model, inspiring peers through enthusiasm and expertise.

Who you are:

• Strong understanding of clothing/fashion product, trends, and customer preferences
• Commercially aware, with numeracy and ability to analyse sales, stock and product performance
• Experience supporting the end-to-end buying process and product development
• Confident negotiating with suppliers and understanding sourcing options
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across teams and suppliers
• Organised, able to manage multiple product areas, deadlines, and critical paths
• Able to support, train and mentor junior team members
• Previous experience as an Assistant Buyer or as a Senior BAA within fashion retail preferred.