Head of Buying at @home Homeware (Foschini Group)

As Head of Buying for @home, you will set and execute the Homeware buying and design strategy across Textiles and Kitchen, Dining and Appliances. You will lead a team of buying managers, buyers, trend leads, designers and product developers to deliver a distinct, design led @home proposition that grows the own brand mix.

Your day to day will involve range planning, price architecture, in season trade actions and financial cadence tracking sales, gross margin, GMROI, stock turn and clearance. You will partner closely with Planning, E commerce, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Retail Operations, Logistics and Finance to deliver aligned omnichannel outcomes. You will also work with Tapestry manufacturing to bring linen and textile ranges into own factories and set the sourcing strategy that balances make, direct import and buy decisions.

Part of the role is leading turnaround and growth of underperforming categories through a customer led product strategy, improved buying and design processes and market share growth. You will build and manage strategic local and offshore supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms aligned to margin, quality, service and responsible sourcing targets. Market and competitor analysis, local and international benchmarking and buying trips will inform seasonal direction.

You will collaborate across the Home Stack category engine, sharing suppliers, sourcing and buying leverage with Volpes, Coricraft and other Home brands. Leading, developing and retaining your team is key, building a strong talent and succession pipeline.

• A relevant degree or diploma in Fashion or Product Design, Buying and Merchandising, Commerce, Retail Management or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years retail buying, merchandise and sourcing experience, including at least 5 years at Head of Buying or Buying Manager level with proven people leadership.
• Proven track record of leading large, multi category portfolios (R1 billion+) with accountability for turnover, gross margin, stock investment and market share.
• Demonstrated success in category turnaround and transformation, revitalising underperforming categories and growing market share through a customer led product strategy.
• Proven experience leading private label (own brand) product from concept to shelf, working closely with Trend, Design, Product Development and Technical teams.
• Strong sourcing background, including direct imports and strategic local and offshore supplier partnerships, with exposure to own manufacturing an advantage.
• Experience across both premium and value retail environments, with the ability to build Good/Better/Best ranges that serve a broad customer base.
• Homeware or textiles experience (bed, bath, home furnishings, kitchen, dining or appliances) will be an advantage.
• Proven track record of building, coaching and developing high performing teams, including succession planning and Employment Equity transformation.
• Strong design eye and trend led thinking, translating trend, colour and fabric direction into distinctive, commercially viable ranges.
• Brand stewardship, building a distinct product handwriting that strengthens brand positioning and the customer proposition.
• Range building and assortment architecture, balancing trend, quality, fit, value and commercial performance.
• End to end product development, product testing, quality and critical path management to improve speed to market.
• Strategic sourcing and supplier development, including supplier consolidation, capability building, performance metrics and contract negotiation (local and offshore).
• Responsible and ethical sourcing aligned to sustainability standards.
• Commercial acumen and trade management, including Open to Buy, inventory investment, markdown optimisation and foreign exchange management for imported merchandise.
• Data driven category management using customer insight, market and competitor analysis to drive KPIs (sales growth, GP%, GMROI, stock turn, clearance).
• Ability to lead change and process improvement, and influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong cross functional collaboration with Design, Planning, Sourcing, Technical, Marketing and Operations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, under pressure and to tight deadlines.

• Set and execute the Homeware buying and design strategy for @home across Textiles and Kitchen, Dining and Appliances in line with the Home Stack Brands and Merchandise strategy.
• Deliver turnover growth and gross margin through strong range planning, Good Better Best price architecture, pricing and in season trade actions.
• Lead trend, design and product development to land a distinct, design led @home proposition and grow the own brand mix.
• Lead the turnaround and growth of underperforming categories through a customer led product strategy, improved buying and design processes and market share growth.
• Partner with Tapestry manufacturing to bring linen and textile ranges into own factories, and set the sourcing strategy that balances make, direct import and buy decisions for each category.
• Build and manage strategic local and offshore supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms in line with margin, quality, service and responsible sourcing targets.
• Partner with Planning and E commerce to optimise stock investment, availability, stock turn and clearance across store and online channels.
• Collaborate across Marketing, Online, Visual Merchandising, Retail Operations, Logistics and Finance to deliver aligned omnichannel outcomes.
• Work across the Home Stack category engine, sharing suppliers, sourcing and buying leverage with Volpes, Coricraft and other Home brands.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis, local and international benchmarking and buying trips to inform seasonal direction.
• Maintain a weekly, monthly and quarterly financial cadence to drive sales, GP%, GMROI, stock turn and clearance.
• Lead, develop and retain buying managers, buyers, the Trend Lead, designers and product developers, building a strong talent and succession pipeline.