Stylish, grounded, uplifting – these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that’s ethical, inclusive – and importantly – good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.
The Senior Assistant Buyer reports to the Buyer and they are responsible for assisting to man-age the department. This includes management of the Admin Assistant, negotiation, supplier communication, overseeing the department critical path and systems admin to ensure dead-lines are met.
Location: 4-5 days per week at our North Acton office, 0-1 working from home.
What You Will Do
Support the development of our amazing product working closely with internal teams and suppliers.
Work closely with the Designers, Techs and Merchandisers to ensure the designs align with the Product Framework and are a balanced wearable offer.
Understand the Boden brand and the customer in all trading regions and regularly monitor and analyse competitors’ prices and activities.
Demonstrate knowledge of the Buying cycle.
Support in the creation of a robust seasonal Framework.
Support the buyer to build a balanced range which is commercial, customer focused and on brand considering all trading markets.
Understand cost and fabric prices required, set target prices and negotiate with sup-pliers to meet the required target margin with support of the Buyers.
Oversee the management of the critical path process to achieve key dates, taking appropriate actions to avoid delays or air shipment.
Ensure deliveries are on time and delays are communicated in a timely manner and solutions offered.
Set up order confirmation sheets and communicate to suppliers
Ensure development packs and samples meet the deadlines set out in the company.
Attend fit sessions to deputise for the Junior Buyer/Buyer when required, ensuring all styles deliver the best fit and flatter, considering; core blocks, customer reviews, fabrics.
Manage the Admin Assistant ensuring they meet deadlines, and work to the quality standards required.
Hold weekly 121’s with your Admin Assistant, coach and develop within their role.
Build and maintain strong relationships with the supply base and internal teams to en-sure smooth running of the department.
Keep systems up to date and accurate at all times with the help of your Admin Assistant.
Set up production BOM’s and ensure all information is accurate before placing orders with suppliers.
Support your manager by working at pace and ensure deadlines are met.
Manage your own workload and priorities and oversee your Admin Assistants.
Ensure decisions are made quickly and speak up if something goes wrong.
What We Are Looking For
Established Assistant Buyer experience.
Passionate about a career in Buying.
Be creative and have a keen eye for detail.
Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
Experience collaborating with teams.
Be organised, adaptable and enjoy a challenge.
Clear communication skills.
Good problem-solving and time management skills.
Our Behaviours
At Boden, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver.
We keep things simple. We say what we mean, keep each other in the loop, and follow through on what we’ve said we’ll do.
We care about doing a good job – and we care about each other.
We’re always kind, often honest, and we will push for high standards without making it heavy.
We know what we’re good at, we lean on each other when needed, and we show up as a team – taking ownership and getting things done together.
What We Offer
Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme
Generous Boden clothing allowance
30% discount on all current clothing ranges
25 days holiday annual, plus Bank Holidays
Online portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment
Virtual GP Service for you and your household
Free onsite parking and subsidised café
We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open, understanding and supportive. A best-of-British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities, and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job whoever they are, helping them thrive in it and celebrating their individuality.
We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.
We’re all about happiness you can wear. Our story begins in 1991.
Contrarian. How else would you describe a man who left a good job in the city – working in New York during its shiny ’80s heyday no less – to set up a mail-order clothes company at a time when buying things that got delivered was considered a bit, well, joke-worthy? Or was he just lucky – right time, right place, right instinct?
Johnnie launched Boden with a hand-drawn catalogue featuring eight menswear styles he wanted in his own wardrobe (and wanted to order from his armchair). That was 1991, and back then, catalogues for stylish people who like stylish clothes weren’t really a ‘thing’ in Britain.
Today, after a wild, unpredictable and exciting 30 years, Boden is a global company but it still has the same family vibes. It’s the opinion of the women in his life – his wife Sophie (who pushed him to follow his dream in the first place), his three discerning daughters and Johnnie’s new lovely female sidekick – Janet the dog – that he values over anything.
Originality is also so very important, with every step taken to set Boden apart from the rest. Whether that’s hand-drawn prints, doing our best to make sure we don’t cut corners and even listing words we cannot use (we copywriters love a challenge). Attention to detail is everything, and it shows. Johnnie has also been adamant that every factory we use respects its workforce in the same way he respects his workforce at home. And that Boden uses as many recycled materials as possible.
“His main piece of advice is always be yourself,” his daughter Katie adds. “I think we’re all flawed but that’s the one thing that we [the family] are – very honest. I just think you can’t go wrong by being honest.” And lastly? “He’s also never tried to be cool…which makes him cool.”
Boden isn’t about fast fashion and fads. It never was. It’s about making clothes that put a smile on your face, for a long, long time.
