Retail Buyer & Merchandiser Outlet - 8.5 months Maternity Cover

ABOUT THE BRAND   At Karl Lagerfeld, we are driven by Karl’s mantra: “Embrace the present and invent the future.”   Always contemporary and forward-looking, the House of KARL LAGERFELD shares the creative vision and design aesthetic of its iconic founder, Karl Lagerfeld.   We are the only fashion house that carries Karl’s name on its door and we strive to live up to this responsibility in everything we do, every day, with the utmost joy and passion.   Our headquarters in Paris and in Amsterdam are home to a highly diverse and driven team of KARL family members that hail from over 35 countries. Together, we aim to create meaningful stories and product concepts that connect to Karl’s world and iconic attributes.   Women’s & Men's ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, swimwear and underwear are managed directly from our Amsterdam headquarters, while other categories, including footwear, fragrances, eyewear and more, are developed with best-in-class licensing partners.   We connect with our consumers on multiple levels, ensuring that our online and offline approach goes hand in hand. We thrive to maximize consumer engagement via more than 200 KL stores worldwide, our premium wholesale partners, and our strong digital footprint, spearheaded by our  karllagerfeld.com and 35 countries. Our digital channels currently represent more than 30% of our overall full-price business.   We are a dynamic, fast-growing and inclusive company built on professionalism and strong values. At KARL LAGERFELD we’re committed to working toward the highest standards of sustainability and integrity across all areas of our business,. In 2019, KARL LAGERFELD joined as a founding member of the Fashion Pact, a global sustainability initiative seeking to transform the fashion industry through objectives in three areas: climate, biodiversity and ocean protection.

THE ROLE

The Retail Buyer & Merchandiser Outlet is responsible for driving the buying and merchandising strategy for the Karl Lagerfeld Outlet Accessories and Footwear division across Europe, overseeing seasonal product selection and retail pricing. Working across multiple product sources, the role focuses on curating a commercially relevant assortment for the European Outlet market, while managing seasonal budgets and OTB to optimize sales performance and profitability. A strong commercial mindset, a keen eye for product and excellent cross-functional collaboration skills are essential to succeed in this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Build seasonal range plan according to customer needs, company strategy and market trends.

Brief design and product development teams to ensure appropriate collection building.

Drive competitor benchmarking and market research.

Collaborate with product development to ensure margin targets are in line with company expectations.

Collaborate with the US team to select the right products and build a commercially relevant assortment tailored to the European Outlet market.

Plan a retail pricing strategy that delivers profitable growth and continued margin expansion.

Run relevant analysis as preparation for the buying periods and to review current trade. 

Ensure optimal assortment planning according to store space, customer profile and budget expectations.

Collaborate with Allocation team to maintain store assortments while maximizing inventory productivity.

Manage seasonal OTB and reorders to support sales performance and stock efficiency.

Collaborate with internal departments, such as VM and Marketing, to maximize the potential of the seasonal buy, both in-season and ahead of the season launch.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Business Planning • Design • Product Development • Licensing & Licensee Partners • Retail team • Visual Merchandising • Marketing

THE PROFILE

Degree in Business, Fashion, Retail Management or related fields.

Minimum of 3 years experience in a similar role. 

Strong understanding of retail landscape and key competitors. Flexible to adapt to the changing trends of the business and/or adhoc projects.

Ability to judge and balance product design / taste level and commercial viability.

Sharp eye for detail and consistency.

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Excellent organizational and analytical skills.

Well-founded knowledge of Excel, experience with QlikSaas reporting system a plus.

Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Ability to travel internationally for store visits, openings and meetings with licensing partners.

  Why #TEAMKARL? (HQ) ·        Learning and development courses/training ·        Opportunity to make an impact ·        Remote working arrangements ·        Relocation allowance ·        Bonus holidays ·        Working in the heart of Amsterdam ·        Brand discounts ·        And exclusive sample sales only for #TEAMKARL   JOIN #TEAMKARL The collective vision of KARL LAGERFELD is to be the most connected global designer brand, inspiring consumers through luxury collections and immersing them in the World of KARL. If you are interested in joining #TEAMKARL, we invite you to submit your application today.   At #TEAMKARL, everyone can give their opinion, grow in their career, and be part of a genuinely caring and inclusive team. We welcome people from all backgrounds, with different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to work with us.     IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING JOB POSTINGS   Please be advised that all legitimate job opportunities at KARL LAGERFELD are published exclusively on our official careers page and on selected partner platforms that redirect directly to our career site.   We strongly recommend that applicants only apply through our verified channels and remain vigilant against unofficial job offers.   KARL LAGERFELD will never request any form of payment during the recruitment process.   If you come across suspicious job postings or receive unexpected communication about a position, please contact us immediately at career@karllagerfeld.com