Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager

Our Story
We are a modern affordable luxury handbag brand, crafting timeless and elegant styles that are made to last. Founded with a vision to do things differently, we create handbags that empower women, are sustainably sourced and ethically made, and give back to those who need it most. These principles guide everything we do. We are committed to driving change, championing equality, and celebrating women. Through our permanent charity initiative, ‘A Bag, A Life’, every purchase funds lifesaving vaccines and medical treatments for children in need, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages. To date, we have funded over 1,000,000 vaccines. Join us and be part of an award-winning, purpose-driven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.

Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager (FTC - 15 months)

Reporting to Head of Merchandising

Role Purpose

The Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager is responsible for the commercial execution of the collection strategy, translating the seasonal assortment into profitable sales and efficient stock management across E-commerce, Retail, and Wholesale.

This role owns the end-to-end buying, forecasting, inventory planning, and allocation process, ensuring alignment with budgets, sales forecasts, and margin targets. Working closely with Collection Merchandising, Production, and Finance, the role plays a critical part in driving sell-through, managing risk, and maximising commercial performance in-season.

Responsibilities

Buying & Commercial Planning

• Own buying, planning, and stock allocation across all channels, ensuring alignment with overall commercial strategy, budgets, and sales forecasts.

• Build and execute seasonal buys by channel and region, balancing commercial opportunity, budget constraints, and stock risk.

• Ensure buys reflect channel-specific needs, customer behaviour, and assortment strategy.
  
   

Forecasting & Demand Planning

• Lead seasonal and in-season forecasting at SKU level, delivering buy forecasts ahead of buy deadlines to inform production capacity, margin optimisation, and cashflow planning.

• Reforecast regularly in-season to inform reorders, allocation changes, and commercial actions.

• Maintain forecast accuracy and accountability through clear assumptions and robust analysis.
  
   

Performance Analysis & Hindsight

• Lead performance hindsight and post-season analysis, reviewing sales, stock, margin, and pricing performance.

• Translate insights into clear recommendations for future assortment, buy depth, pricing, and lifecycle decisions in close collaboration with Collection Merchandising.
   

OTB, Inventory & WSSI Management

• Own and manage OTB, inventory levels, and WSSI across channels.

• Set and review sales, stock, and intake targets at product and category level.

• Monitor performance against KPIs, identifying risks and driving corrective actions while protecting margin and cash position.
  
   

Allocation & Stock Optimisation

• Own stock allocation to ensure the right product mix is available in the right location at the right time.

• Optimise allocation and replenishment strategies to support sell-through, availability, and customer demand across channels.
  
   

In-Season Trading & Commercial Actions

• Drive weekly trade performance, using in-season analysis to optimise sell-through and profitability.

• Recommend and implement reorders, pricing actions, promotions, and markdown strategies in line with commercial guidelines.

• Balance short-term trading opportunities with long-term margin and brand considerations.
   

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Execution

• Partner closely with Production to align forecasts, reorders, and capacity planning.

• Work with Collection Merchandising to align buy depth, lifecycle decisions, and pricing strategy.

• Collaborate with Finance to support financial forecasting, budgeting, and cashflow planning.

• Oversee buy execution and reporting, including purchase order management, cost of goods visibility, and commercial analysis to support stakeholders.
  
   

Experience & Skills

• Significant experience in buying, merchandising planning, or allocation, ideally within luxury or premium fashion/accessories.

• Strong commercial and analytical capability, with deep experience managing OTB, WSSI, forecasting, and stock optimisation.

• Proven ability to trade in-season and make data-led commercial decisions.

• Advanced Excel / planning system capability and strong attention to detail.

• Confident stakeholder manager, able to influence cross-functionally and operate at pace.

Benefits:

• Hybrid-working policy (1-2 days in the office).

• Annual Leave package increasing the longer you stay with us.

• Enhanced company maternity policy.

• Time given yearly to volunteer for a charity of your choice.

• Employee Discount: 50% off Stock and up to 90% off Seasonal Sample Sales.

• Free gift DeMellier bag on successful probation