Manager, Buying (FTC)

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles.
Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.
A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive. Visit Our People page to learn more about Tapestry's commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Primary Purpose: The Buying Manager will oversee the day-to-day execution of product investment across all categories, supporting in-season performance against financial targets for Kate Spade New York’s European Outlet channel. Reporting to the Senior Buying Manager, the role will help deliver brand, product and planning strategies.
The successful individual will leverage their proficiency in Buying/Planning to:
Manage the day-to-day execution of product investment for Outlet product categories, supporting in-season performance against sales and margin targets for Outlet stores across the region
Support Outlet buying strategies through product selections and door/online assortments, helping to drive consumer engagement across channels in partnership with relevant cross-functional partners
Support seasonal buy reviews, hindsight meetings and management of the seasonal milestone calendar
Contribute to weekly team WSRM, providing financial overview, clear actions and updates
Monitor performance against sales and margin targets; identify in-season opportunities and risks, and recommend trading activities in line with the seasonal promotional calendar, AOP and SMI targets
Analyse product performance, customer feedback, consumer trends, competitor activity and local market insights to identify regional opportunities and share findings with Global Merchandising
Support monthly RPAS/Cora activities, ensuring accuracy in partnership with Finance and Inventory Planning
Partner with the Inventory Planner to review on-hand inventory and recommend activities to support Global WOH/turn targets with clear actions and timelines
Develop and support junior team members while demonstrating leadership across the wider function
Coordinate go-to-market assets for Outlet doors in the region
Support future Made To Forecast strategy and growth of the Wholesale outlet business, including tiering strategy, product alignment and regional product nuances to support specific market needs
Align product and promotional strategies with Wholesale and Marketplace, using performance and inventory insights to share best practices across both channels
Partner with the Allocation team to prioritise Outlet allocations in line with floor-set launches and peak trading periods
Partner with Inventory Management annually and monthly to review the AOP and any updates
Build and maintain close working relationships with key regional and global partners
Promote best practices and effective ways of working to improve team productivity and understanding
Conduct ad hoc analysis and scenario planning to support current trading decisions and future business needs
The accomplished individual will possess:
Significant buying and planning experience at Manager level, ideally within an Outlet channel
Multi-category experience, preferably across handbags and accessories
Strong numerical, analytical and financial skills, with a clear understanding of the key drivers of business growth
Working knowledge of RPAS, Cora or SAP is highly desirable
Advanced proficiency in Excel
Experience coaching and supporting junior team members
Strong knowledge of the luxury fashion and accessories market
Experience within a global company or brand, supporting European markets
Ability to use market and industry insights to shape strategy, maintain competitiveness and strengthen customer focus
A strategic, data-driven and solutions-focused approach, supported by strong commercial acumen
Ability to translate business priorities into clear team direction and make sound decisions under pressure and within tight deadlines
Ability to build strong regional and global partnerships and engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels
Please be advised that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. As such, you will only be considered if you already possess the right to work in the UK.
What Tapestry can offer you:
Hybrid working (Tuesday - Thursday working from the office, Monday and Friday working remotely)
Option to finish early on a Friday (Flex Fridays)
1 paid volunteering day per year and opportunities to volunteer with global projects
Learning & development opportunities
Internal mobility & career progression
Regular social events - seasonal & cultural
Equity Inclusion & Diversity initiatives which include employee resource groups & regional inclusion council
Other benefits include:
25 days holiday in addition to bank holidays
Multi brand discount up to 50% off – Coach and Kate Spade.
Private healthcare with health assessment (Bupa)
Bupa rewards - Financial wellbeing support and wellness discounts
Private dental cover
Free 24/7 support for family building, fertility and menopause with Maven
Eyecare vouchers
Employee assistance programme
Enhanced employer pension contribution
Gym discount
Interest free season ticket loan
Cycle to work scheme
At Tapestry, we are committed to building a diverse & inclusive workforce. We know that having a wide range of perspectives and experiences makes us more innovative and brings us closer to our consumers. If you are interested in this role but do not believe you meet all the set criteria, that’s ok. We are happy to work with individuals who have the drive, passion, agility and willingness to learn. So, take a chance and apply; you may just be who we are looking for. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Our Competencies for All Employees
Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
Creativity: Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
Learning on the Fly: Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.
Our Competencies for All People Managers
Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
Developing Direct Reports and Others: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
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