Buying & Merchandising Director
Uddingston - UK
Job Summary
Role: Buying & Merchandising Director
Location: DFYNE HQ 1 Forrest Gate Uddingston G71 5PG
Work Location: Onsite
About You:
Are you a commercial strategist a margin driven operator and a relationship builder who knows how to turn great ideas into commercially successful ranges Do you understand customers trends and the psychology behind why people buy and how to build ranges that deliver sell through profitability and brand consistency Are you as comfortable negotiating with suppliers as you are analysing performance data and do you thrive in fast paced high growth environments where you can build optimise and scale
If you bring a blend of commercial sharpness operational discipline and customer first thinking DFYNE may be the place for you.
About DFYNE:
A picture paints a thousand words and were sure you dont want to be sat here reading an essay of corporate about us spiel. Seriously howre you able to really get under the skin of what were about from a few words on a screen So why dont you have a look and see what were all about for yourself - .
About the role - DFYNE Your Career:
First off its best I introduce myself (person behind the keyboard here) its not the norm on a job role spec but I feel its important you get introduced to who you might be working with for a long time early on. Im Jay Chief Commercial Officer at DFYNE and Im looking for someone whos going to help us take DFYNEs commercial buying engine to the next level as well as supporting DFYNEs next stage in global growth.
The Buying & Merchandising Director will lead DFYNEs global buying function. Owning supplier partnerships commercial negotiations range planning cost optimisation and stock flow. Youll build a buying engine that delivers quality reliability and strong margins ensuring DFYNEs products land on time at the right cost and at the right commercial impact.
Attitude:
- Builder energy
- Customer obsessed mindset
- Grounded confidence
- Commercial creativity
- Calm command
Key Responsibilities:
- Own DFYNEs global buying strategy ensuring commercial strength supplier reliability and operational feasibility.
- Build lead and develop DFYNEs buying team creating clear accountability performance expectations and succession plans.
- Establish KPIs and performance standards across the buying function ensuring alignment with commercial and operational objectives.
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on commercial outcomes collaboration innovation and continuous improvement.
- Lead seasonal and annual range planning from a commercial perspective (quantities cost targets supplier allocation timelines).
- Build and manage supplier relationships that deliver quality consistency and ethical standards.
- Negotiate costs terms MOQs and lead times to maximise margin and minimise risk.
- Manage critical path and production timelines ensuring on-time delivery and smooth stock flow.
- Use performance data to optimise buying decisions forecast demand and refine future commercial plans.
- Partner with Product Design and Marketing to ensure commercial alignment.
- Ensure compliance quality assurance and ethical sourcing across all suppliers and factories.
- Monitor market trends and competitor pricing to inform commercial decision-making.
- Drive continuous improvement in buying processes supplier performance and cost efficiency.
- Travel internationally to suppliers factories and key commercial partners when required.
Experience Needed:
- Senior buying leadership experience in a high growth brand ideally fitness lifestyle fashion or consumer goods.
- Proven track record of delivering strong margins cost optimisation and supplier performance improvements.
- Demonstrated success in global supplier management negotiation and production oversight.
- Experience working with international suppliers factories and diverse commercial markets.
- Strong understanding of fabrication costing structures MOQs and production timelines.
- Comfort using data to drive commercial decisions forecast demand and optimise stock flow.
- Owning inventory performance balancing availability working capital stock turn and markdown risk.
- Experience operating within a multi-million-pound inventory or purchasing budget environment.
Skills:
- Commercial strategy
- Negotiation & supplier management
- Costing & margin optimisation
- Critical path management
- Datadriven decision making
- Stock flow & forecasting
What success might look like within the first 12 months:
- Improved gross margin performance.
- Strengthened supplier partnerships and terms.
- Enhanced forecasting accuracy.
- Reduced stock risk and improved stock turn.
- Increased on-time delivery performance.
- Creation of scalable buying processes to support growth.
So whats in it for you
If youve made it this far down without being put off brilliant. Id love to hear from you. Besides a work family and a great place to work youll have an opportunity to grow with the company be a part of the journey and have a vital input into helping continue the crazy growth weve already seen. Youll play a vital role in shaping DFYNEs commercial success.
Youll be part of a high challenge; high reward culture.
What will aid a successful application with DFYNE:
- Cover letter
- Completed questionnaire
Additional pay:
- Bonus scheme
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Unlimited paid holidays
- Free on-site gym
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Uddingston G71 5PG: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Job Type: Full-time Permanent
Salary:
- Starting from 70000 annually.
Equality and diversity monitoring
DFYNE wants to meet the aims and commitments set out in our equality policy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
Please complete this form to help us understand the diversity of our candidates.
Completing this form is voluntary and the information provided will be kept confidential. The information is going to be used to help us understand the diversity of our organisation.
None of the information you provide will be linked to your application and is completely anonymous
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