Job Description

GET TO KNOW US

At Brown Thomas Arnotts, we are Reinventing Retail. Our purpose is to enrich our customer’s lives, which we achieve by living our values – Going Above and Beyond, Driving Creativity and Innovation, and Doing the Right Thing. We are one business with two iconic brands, bringing exciting experience to life through our digital and physical destinations. Our customer engagement sets the bar in service and experiential retail, giving our customers something to love every time.

KNOW THE ROLE

The Buyer for Fragrance & Planet Beauty is responsible for driving the commercial performance, strategic development and growth of both categories across Brown Thomas Arnotts. Working closely with the Buying Director and key business stakeholders, the Buyer will develop and execute category strategies, build a differentiated portfolio of established and emerging brands, and establish strong, strategic supplier partnerships that deliver sustainable growth and profitability.

The role requires a commercially astute and customer-focused buyer with strong leadership capabilities, excellent relationship management skills and the ability to identify opportunities, influence stakeholders and develop a high-performing buying team. This is a fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity leave.

Cateory Strategy & Commercial Performance

• Develop and execute category strategies for Fragrance and Planet Beauty, delivering sales growth, profitability and long-term commercial success
• Take ownership of category budgets, sales and margin performance, forecasting, stockholding and inventory productivity
• Lead category masterplanning, portfolio development and range optimisation, identifying opportunities to strengthen the customer proposition and create incremental revenue
• Monitor market trends, customer insights and competitor activity to identify emerging opportunities and maintain a relevant, differentiated brand portfolio
• Ensure both categories deliver an elevated customer experience aligned with the positioning and commercial objectives of Brown Thomas Arnotts

Supplier Relationship Management & Brand Development

• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with existing and prospective suppliers, brand partners and senior brand stakeholders
• Lead commercial negotiations and develop joint business plans that maximise sales, margin, supplier investment and long-term mutual growth
• Manage supplier performance against agreed commercial objectives, ensuring effective communication, accountability and delivery
• Identify, evaluate and onboard new brands and opportunities that enhance the portfolio, strengthen differentiation and support category expansion
• Collaborate with brand partners to deliver successful launches, marketing initiatives, events and customer experiences that drive engagement and commercial performance

Cross-Category & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build effective relationships across the wider buying function, identifying opportunities for cross-category collaboration and complementary brand partnerships
• Work closely with retail operations, marketing, visual merchandising, e-commerce, finance and planning teams to deliver aligned commercial objectives
• Influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, ensuring effective communication, shared priorities and successful execution of business initiatives
• Contribute to wider business strategy by identifying opportunities to enhance the customer proposition and drive incremental sales across the business

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage and develop the buying team, setting clear objectives and priorities aligned with category and business goals
• Coach and mentor team members, supporting the development of commercial acumen, buying capability, confidence and professional progression
• Foster a collaborative, accountable and high-performing team culture that encourages initiative, creativity and continuous development
• Provide clear direction and support while empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities and deliver results

Planning & Operational Excellence

• Oversee assortment planning, forecasting and stock management to maximise availability, sales and profitability
• Monitor category performance and stock productivity, identifying risks and opportunities and implementing appropriate actions
• Work collaboratively with planning and finance teams to ensure effective budget management, reporting and commercial decision-making
• Ensure buying activities, launches and promotional initiatives are delivered effectively and within agreed timelines

KNOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Significant buying or category management experience, ideally within luxury retail, premium beauty, fragrance or a comparable commercial environment
• Proven commercial acumen, with experience delivering category growth, managing budgets and improving profitability and stock productivity
• Demonstrable experience in supplier relationship management, commercial negotiation and strategic brand partnerships
• Strong understanding of portfolio development, range planning and the commercial opportunities presented by established and emerging brands
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across categories and functions
• Experience leading, coaching or mentoring team members and developing buying talent
• Strong analytical, organisational and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment
• Customer-focused, collaborative and proactive, with a passion for beauty, fragrance, brands and evolving consumer trends

KNOW WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

We believe that every team member should have the opportunity to curate a meaningful career that enhances professional and personal development. That is why we foster a culture of belonging and inclusiveness where your voice is valuable. A great customer experience starts with a great people experience, and we’re proud to have been recognised by multiple industry bodies for our progressive workplace culture.

As a Brown Thomas Arnotts team member, you will benefit from:

• Competitive Salary
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Team Member discount across the world’s most iconic brands
• Wellbeing Initiatives
• Extensive Learning & Development Offerings
• Leading Talent Programmes
• Flexible Working Model
• Additional Benefits

KNOW HOW WE WORK

Experience is our business: Our customer engagement sets the bar in service and experiential retail, giving our customers something to love every time.

We Are More Than Shops: We create enjoyable places, to excite, where people socialise, discover, learn and are inspired, and where local communities are enriched.

We are Curators: Our unique range of product and services are key to the sense of excitement that Brown Thomas Arnotts is renowned for, whether for a special day or every day, things that make our customer’s lives better.

We Care for Our People: We believe a great customer experience starts with a great people experience. That is why we promote a culture where talent is nurtured and where creativity and learning are valued.

Brown Thomas Arnotts is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where culture and creativity come together. Our future success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all team members – their diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences make our business stronger. We don’t discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and / or membership of the Travelling community.

We aim to ensure the candidate experience is accessible to all and every new team member who joins Brown Thomas Arnotts can expect to become part of a progressive community where different backgrounds, views & personalities aren’t just welcomed – they’re positively nurtured. After all, we want you to bring your whole self to work. Please contact us at careers@brownthomas.ie to request accommodation.