Senior Assistant Buyer / Junior Buyer - hybrid (3 days / week office-based)

MORI is a digitally native, direct-to-consumer baby and toddler clothing brand established and headquartered in London. We exist to inspire parents to raise kinder generations so together we can give babies a softer & stronger start. Key to our growth is the strength in our brand, standing by our values and connecting deeply with our customers. We are a hard-working and close-knit team dedicated to creating quality products and a brand loved by parents, globally. For a young emerging brand, MORI has achieved significant critical acclaim and global recognition, partly fuelled by celebrity endorsements such as Kim Kardashian and other influencers, as well as winning multiple awards incl. Best Baby Brand (2018, 2019, 2020), Most Eco-Friendly Brand (2020, 2021), The Queen's Awards for Enterprise (2022). Can’t Live Without Parenting Product (2021, 2023), Made for Mum (2024).

Role

We are looking for a dynamic, hard-working individual with previous experience in buying to join our small but mighty Buying team as a Senior Assistant Buyer / Junior Buyer. The successful candidate will play an instrumental role in supporting all product and design-related functions, with a particular focus on: product development, building commercial ranges, trend & competitor analysis and range planning.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate closely with the Buying, Merchandising & Design teams to build collections from concept to final samples, including creating trend boards, curating colour palettes, and contributing to the development of commercial product ranges.
2. Take ownership of the critical path with support from the Buying Assistant from initial concept through to design sketches, swatches, and final buying samples, ensuring timelines are met.
3. Assist in designing collections and planning ranges in partnership with Merchandising and Design, under the guidance of the Head of Buying. Develop a clear, directional strategy for your area of responsibility.
4. Oversee supplier approvals for lab dips, prints, pre-production samples, and shipments, negotiating where necessary with support from the Head of Buying.
5. Maintain strong relationships with suppliers and licensing partners to ensure smooth product development and adherence to deadlines.
6. Inspect PPS and shipment samples for defects and damages alongside the Buyer’s Assistant ensuring high-quality standards are met.
7. Contribute to the team objective of achieving optimum cost-effective negotiation and supplier management.
8. Manage the approval of lab dips, strike offs and trims to a high standard that delivers the signed off look of each product.
9. Managing the garment approval process from components to garment sealing.
10. Carry out risk assessments in collaboration with the technical team to identify potential issues demonstrating a greater understanding of production techniques and risks.
11. Conduct trend research, analyse best and worst sellers with the Merchandising team, and present actionable insights to inform future ranges.
12. Manage and mentor the Buyer’s Assistant, championing their personal and professional growth.

This role offers the opportunity to drive product innovation, develop strong supplier relationships, and contribute to the success of the team while fostering a collaborative and creative environment.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Previous experience within a head office buying environment at Senior Assistant Buyer or, Junior Buyer level
2. Trend awareness, you’ll have experience in managing a critical path, be able to partner with suppliers and have enthusiasm for trends, fashion, and babywear
3. A hands-on approach and not afraid to go the extra mile
4. Highly proactive and confident in making decisions and taking calculated risks; we thrive as a small, agile team
5. Strong organisational skills, with an ability to thrive in a high-pressured environment
6. Experience with Adobe Illustrator is preferred for this role but not essential
7. Ability to build effective and open relationships with all team members
8. Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative
9. Advanced Microsoft Office/Google Workspace skills, particularly Excel/Google Sheets.

Benefits:

1. Industry competitive salary
2. 24 days holidays + bank holidays
3. Core working hours (between 10 am and 4 pm)
4. Opportunity to work hybrid (3 days a week in the office 2 days a week from home)
5. Enhanced parental leave policy
6. Up to 50% discount on our collections
7. Cycle to work scheme
8. A dog friendly office in West London, nearest tube Ladbroke Grove or White City