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Head of Home, Tech and Toys - Buying, London
Client: Selfridges
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Category: Other
EU work permit required: Yes
Job Reference:
eba72ae05149
Job Views:
4
Posted:
18.04.2025
Expiry Date:
02.06.2025
Job Description:
Head of Home, Tech and Toys - Buying
Job Introduction
The Head of Home, Tech and Toys is a member of the Selfridges Senior Leadership team and reports directly to the Executive Director – Buying. This is a visionary team and role, executing Selfridges' buying direction and ensuring the team is set up for success to deliver.
The role is pivotal to providing creative thought leadership, provoking debate and bringing in industry-wide collaborators, enabling Selfridges' vision to Reinvent Retail and create a sustainable future for our customers.
The Head of Home, Tech and Toys will be a visionary, industry-connected collaborator and will manage a team that encompasses both strategic and operational roles. The leader will be a design industry-admired visionary, cementing Selfridges place as a retail pioneer and the brand that will truly Reinvent Retail.
Scope of work:
* Develop, communicate and implement a strategic vision and commercial strategy for the Home/ Tech/ Toys division to maximise sales and hit profit targets, across the categories of Design (Interior Accessories & Textiles, Kitchen & Dining), Stationery, Books & Gifts, Technology, Toys & Christmas;
* Lead, motivate and engage the team by building a solid, positive working environment, helping to coach them in their development and celebrate their successes;
* Foster a culture of innovation and creativity, inspiring and supporting the buying teams to build capability to deliver compelling propositions that align to our brand;
* Use sales and performance information to steer the Home/ Tech/ Toys Buying team to maximise opportunities;
* Reinforce the brand by ensuring the desired quality standards are achieved and sustainably sourced in line with our Reselfridges initiatives;
* Understand the importance of sustainability and circular business models; incorporate this within our buying, supplier strategy and creative approach;
* Be passionate about demonstrating exceptional awareness of competitors and external trends;
* Continually strive to improve and build mutually effective supplier relationships, as well as identify new sourcing opportunities and provide focused, clear development direction to the current supplier base;
* Analyse trading patterns, advising teams and ensuring appropriate action is taken in the event of unforeseen sales reactions;
* Ensure the team buys a commercially viable product range that reflects the brand image and incorporates current trends. Build, retain and develop a high performing team with an emphasis on succession planning;
* Create an environment which encourages teamwork and continuous improvement, setting the standard for high output, efficiency, sense of urgency and accountability while advocating and living core values and higher purpose;
* Foster an inclusive culture, demonstrating a genuine interest in others; adapting leadership style to ‘get the best outcome’ from every situation/interaction, being aware, sensitive and respectful to different needs of colleagues and team members;
* Establish clear and effective ways of working to facilitate cross functional collaboration with key stakeholder groups – including in Retail, Property/Design, Marketing/Communications, Logistics, Technology and Creative;
* Partner with the Merchandising and Finance teams to plan long-term business models with Concession and Own Bought brand partners, including management of continuity and seasonal OTB both before and in season;
* Partner with the Creative team to set the creative direction for the Home/ Tech/ Toys division, positioning Selfridges as a ground-breaking global destination for all categories and seasonal activations (ie Christmas, etc);
* Partner with the Brand Partnerships team, and in particular the Head of Brand Partnerships, to evaluate and improve the effectiveness and value of the partnership model, ways of working, and perceived value to brand partners;
* Partner with Marketing, Membership/Experience and PR/Communications teams to set short- and longterm strategies to establish Selfridges as ‘best in class’ for Home, Tech, Toys and Christmas; Effectively promote venues, products and services; Drive traffic and reinforce brand reputation.
The role requires the following experience:
* Industry-recognised leader in the lifestyle design/gift industry with a strong brand and commercial mindset;
* Record of success and achievement in a comparable senior leadership position;
* Experienced strategic leader who can evidence a record of conceptualising, implementing and delivering the commercial and creative strategy for a design/gift business;
* In-depth knowledge of and experience working with leading global brands, including a combination of APAC, EMEA and/or AMER;
* Suited to working within a creative and entrepreneurial business; A fashion, luxury or lifestyle background would be preferred, other relevant consumer-facing experience considered;
* In-depth experience of a business that has both a physical and digital presence with brands of scale that are complex, ideally multichannel and global;
* Industry visionary and collaborator, able to provide inspiration and challenge to ensure we are continually looking to the future, anticipating opportunities for the long-term view of the Selfridges brand;
* A visionary and strategic thinker, able to take a consumer-centric approach to lead Selfridges into the future; Able to develop holistic approaches and strategies which drive Selfridges creativity and brand;
* A natural relationship builder, able to further strengthen the exceptional relationships Selfridges has with its suppliers/vendors, creative partners and its consumers;
* Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills; Able to work effectively cross-functionally and build partnerships with different Senior Leadership and Executive team leaders, as well as ensure that the full team is committed to working cooperatively and creatively with other internal teams;
* A deep appreciation and affinity with the Selfridges brand and an inherent understanding and appreciation for Selfridges’ values;
* A successful background in strategic leadership, fostering internal progression of team members & championing internal learning/ development initiatives; Strong team-management abilities underscored by effective organization, planning and time management skills;
* An understanding of the principles of corporate governance, business planning and financial systems.
The following style/ behaviours will benefit the candidate:
* Inspiring attitude with positive energy, dynamism, stature and gravitas;
* High EQ, compelling communicator and strong interpersonal and influencing skills;
* Inherent ability to foster collaboration and strong cross-functional working;
* Entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to think outside the box;
* Tenacity and resilience to make things happen and implement change;
* Humble, yet confident, with a high degree of curiosity and intellectual horsepower;
* Low ego combined with a hands-on approach and a positive attitude;
* Appetite for working in a fast-paced environment;
* Self-awareness and independence;
* Possession of a professional and ethical core belief system;
* Ability to contribute to discussion and debate and to offer constructive challenge, whilst accepting accountability for collective decision making;
* Ability to be an external, public facing voice of Selfridges, readily able to articulate Selfridges' brand, commercial & creative direction.
Selfridges has always been much more than a shop. We’re a social space where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, a creative playground where culture and commerce collide, and an experimental hub where you can discover the most innovative and sustainable ideas in retail. We’re here to help make the world brighter. And you can be an important part of this. We’ll talk more about the role below, but before we get to that, let’s share with you the good stuff…
Rewards and benefits
Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary.
* Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working
* Generous annual leave that increases with length of service
* Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations
* Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies
* Defined pension contribution scheme
* Generous bonus and/or commission scheme
* Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days
* Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment
* Subsidised gym memberships
* Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes
* A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme
* Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members
* Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance
* Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development
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