Buying Assistant | UAE

No two days are the same at Al-Futtaim, no matter what role you have. Our work is driven by the desire to make a difference and to have a meaningful impact with the goal of enriching everyday lives . Take our engaging and supportive work environment and couple it with a company culture that recognises and rewards quality performance, and what do you get? The chance to push the limits every single day.

As a humble family business that started on the banks of the Dubai Creek in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim has expanded to a presence in 31 countries, a portfolio of over 200 companies, and 42,000 employees. You’ll find us in industries ranging from automotive and retail, to finance and real estate, and connecting people with international names like Lexus, Ikea, and Adidas. Our team is proudly multicultural and multinational because that kind of diverse representation gives us the global mindset to grow and impact the people, markets, and trends around us.

Come join us to live well, work better, and be the best.

About The Role

The Buying Assistant coordinates, executes and manages the activities of a buying department, classification or key programs, depending on scope and complexity, and assists the Category buyer in developing, executing and communicating a product strategy that meets or exceeds financial goals.

Key Accountabilities

Performance Analysis

• Assist and coordinate merchandizing and promotional activities to ensure successful execution
• Works with cross-functional team to ensure timely and accurate execution of new store assortments and quantities.
• Develops performance reports to determine appropriate allocation for maximum results.
• Develops in store stock analysis by size for key classifications i.e. Exclusive brands and other brands
• Handle queries from suppliers and work closely with suppliers to ensure timely submission on proposals
• Assist in price checks and obtain samples from suppliers
• Communicates out-of-stock concerns to the Buying and Planning teams
• Assist to communicate effectively with Operation and Trading Support for promotions and Trading activities
• Manages and checks PO created in SAP
• Raises shipment, PO discrepancy reports

Performance and Financial Goals Achievement

• Ensures timely and accurate execution of new store assortments as well as initial distributions and replenishment for existing locations
• Maintains correct stock levels by store
• Meets or exceeds sales, gross margin and inventory turn goals.
• Analyses and communicates location performance, including sales/inventory comparisons, seasonality and marketing impacts.
• Develops departmental distribution strategies to capture location-based opportunities through quantifying volume and profit opportunities analysis.
• Follows product from receipt at the Distribution Centre, to point of allocation and complete receipt at store level. This is most important at floor set time periods
• Generate and review a range analysis report at the end of each phase/season to share successes and learn from any mistakes

Field Communication

• Participates in weekly cross-functional meetings to share information on current business issues
• Develops knowledge of regional variances and store attributes and trends through data analysis and field communication.
• Develops effective field relationships to capture location opportunities and / or liabilities

About You

To be successfully considered for this role, you must demonstrate the following skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree/ MBA
• 3+ years’ experience of buying preferable in beauty products.
• Focus
• Strategic planning
• Expertise in MS Office.
• Collaboration.
• Advance exposure to retailing, promotions and merchandising activities
• Excellent English Communication skills.
• Good Analytical skills & Interpersonal skills
• Organizational Skills

We’re here to provide excellent service but a little help from you can ensure a five-star candidate experience from start to finish.

Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.