The Opportunity

As Head of Buying for Face + Body, you will lead the product strategy for our highly successful and growing branded Beauty departments, managing a team of Buyers and working collaboratively with the wider Commercial teams to deliver a commercial range that is loved by the ASOS 20 something customer, globally. 

You will be collaborative, organised, and strategic with your finger on the pulse of beauty - always looking to push the range for our global markets forward.  In partnership with other Commercial and Marketing teams, and with the support of relevant customer and market insights, you will be responsible for the delivery of sales and profit targets through a cohesive product strategy.

The Team

The Buying team is instrumental in making ASOS the leading destination for fashion-loving 20-something customers, globally. The Branded Buying teams are responsible for creating and sourcing the brand mix for their department, covering big commercial brands through to emerging brands to offer our customer the most exciting product and create a point of difference in the global market. 

What you’ll be doing…  

• Shaping the product direction of Face + Body departments and developing dept strategies with key partners

• Overseeing range development, ensuring that the product reflects the Brand strategy, the range is without gaps or duplication, and that the season is logically and commercially thought through.

• Shaping a strategy for the departments that is aligned to the wider Commercial and ASOS strategy, understanding how the range sits within the overall Branded portfolio

• Operating as a senior manager within the division, working in close partnership with Heads of Buying and Merchandising and the wider Commercial team to deliver profitable departments, irrespective of market conditions and shifting trends

• Anticipating the needs of the 20-something customer, using sales data, customer profile analytics and trend information to deliver commercial product ranges and shape the future of the division

• Working with leaders in the Global team to understand global planning, pricing and trading strategy for departments, identifying new moments and opportunities to support global requirements

• Strategically planning and driving cost saving initiatives or ideas to become more cost efficient

• Leading Brand roll ups and reviews, leading appropriate partnerships and supply base recommendations with Buyers

• Building and leveraging relationships with a network of appropriate internal teams and external suppliers to drive evolution within the strategy

• Shaping and driving lean, agile processes and ways of working for departments 

• Maintaining and instilling in the departments a strong understanding of global competitors’ product offer, pricing strategy and trading activity and using insights to pivot team activity and manage risks, as required

• Analysing trading patterns, advising teams and ensuring appropriate action is taken to unforeseen sales reactions.

• Working with Head of Merchandising to ensure that product reviews are held at the appropriate time for product sign-off.

• Guiding team on range building, taking into account Options, ALB strategy and global requirements, with the flexibility to pivot in season to potentialize or de-risk

• Maintaining a clear understanding of brand purpose and Fashion with Integrity and ensuring these principles are fully embedded within the team

• Working closely with Marketing to identify promotional and marketing opportunities for brand and ensure clear and consistent brand messaging

• Working closely with Branded Engagement to develop a sound supply base, striving for consistent best practice partnerships.

• Leading and driving business wide initiatives and projects, positively influencing and championing change 

• Agreeing styling and visual merchandising guidelines with Studios and Global teams

• Leading and building a strong team with a focus on growing future talent

• Providing clear direction and development to the team, identifying individual training needs and encouraging collaborative ways of working

We’d love to meet someone who…

• Has a proven track record in Branded Beauty Buying within a fast-paced, global Retail or E-commerce business

• Has the ability to drive the success of multiple departments through strategic, creative and commercial thinking

• Can successfully gain buy in from the team and leaders to potentialize opportunities

• Has experience of leading high volume, fast-paced, and high quality dependent requirements.

• Shows a deep understanding of the ASOS 20-something customer and customer segmentation and reflects this in decision making

• Uses relevant market insights and sales data to inform decision making and achieve the best outcome for the business

• Shows strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context  

• Builds great relationships with internal stakeholders to Exec level and suppliers

• Has an effective and inclusive management style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary, bonus and pension matching

• Life insurance, free private medical care, cycle to work scheme + more

• A bespoke flexible benefits scheme catered to you

• Best in class Learning & Development schemes and career development programmes

• 25 days holiday + never work on your birthday again!

• Free modern onsite gym, plus personal training and wellness rooms

• A dynamic social environment, from company-wide sports days, charity days, ‘Give A Week Away’ opportunities to visit our charity partners in India & company-wide celebrations to name just a few

• Huge staff discounts and sample sales