Lead Buyer - Men's Wear/Fashion Retail Domain

Description: Lead Buyer - Mens Wear (Fashion Retail)

Job Summary:

The Lead Buyer for Mens Wear is responsible for developing the buying strategy, curating product assortments, managing vendor relationships, and driving category performance for the mens apparel division. This role combines strong fashion sensibility with commercial acumen to ensure the right product mix, margins, and inventory efficiency across retail and e-commerce channels.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Assortment Planning & Category Strategy

- Develop and execute seasonal buying plans for mens wear categories (e.g., shirts, trousers, denim, casualwear, ethnic, innerwear, accessories).

- Analyze customer insights, market trends, and competitor assortments to drive category growth.

- Define category-wise product mix, pricing strategy, and margin targets.

2. Vendor & Supplier Management

- Identify, onboard, and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and brand partners.

- Negotiate costs, MOQs, lead times, payment terms, and exclusive collections.

- Ensure vendors meet quality standards, compliance requirements, and production timelines.

3. Inventory & OTB (Open-to-Buy) Management

- Manage OTB budgets effectively to optimize inventory turnover and minimize markdowns.

- Monitor sell-through performance; adjust in-season buying and replenishment as needed.

- Coordinate with supply chain and planning teams on stock allocation, distribution, and reorders.

4. Product Development (if applicable)

- Collaborate with design and sourcing teams to develop private label collections.

- Approve samples, fits, fabrics, trims, and ensure alignment with brand identity and cost targets.

- Conduct periodic quality checks and production follow-ups.

5. Sales & Performance Analysis

- Track category-wise sales performance, margins, and inventory health.

- Identify slow movers and best sellers; plan corrective actions such as promotions, rebuys, or assortment rebalancing.

- Prepare weekly/monthly business reports for leadership review.

6. Cross-functional Collaboration

- Partner with merchandising, marketing, VM, store operations, and e-commerce teams for launches and promotions.

- Work with marketing for campaigns and visual storytelling aligned with seasonal themes.

- Coordinate with finance for budgeting, costing, and business approvals.

7. Team Leadership (if applicable)

- Manage and mentor junior buyers, assistant buyers, and planners.

- Provide training on negotiation, market research, product analysis, and vendor management.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

Education

- Bachelors degree in Fashion Merchandising, Apparel Design, Retail Management, or related field.

- MBA or specialized fashion retail certification preferred.

Experience

- 6-12+ years of experience in buying or merchandising within fashion retail, specifically mens wear categories.

- Experience in multi-channel retail (offline + e-commerce) preferred.

- Strong background in vendor management and product costing.

Technical Skills

- Expertise in assortment planning tools and retail analytics.

- Strong understanding of fabrics, fits, washes, and garment construction (mandatory for mens wear).

- Proficient in Excel, ERP/MIS systems, and sales forecasting.

Soft Skills

- Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

- Trend-sensitive with a sharp commercial mindset.

- Excellent communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.

- Ability to handle high-volume categories and fast turnaround cycles.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Sell-through %, gross margins, and category profitability.

- Inventory turnover and OTB accuracy.

- New vendor performance and cost optimization.

- Success of seasonal assortments and product acceptance.

- Reduction in markdowns and dead stock.

Work Environment

- Regular travel required for supplier visits, fabric sourcing, trade shows, and competitive shopping.

- Fast-paced, trend-driven environment with tight deadlines and seasonal cycles.