Senior Buyer – Apparel & Fashion Retail

About the role

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Senior Buyer to lead the buying strategy and product direction for a dynamic retail business in Botswana. You will oversee a team of Buyers and Junior Buyers, ensuring the right products are sourced at the right price, quantity, and time.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement departmental buying, product, and marketing strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead, coach, and manage a team of Buyers and Junior Buyers.
• Own the end‑to‑end buying cycle from trend development to delivery.
• Create commercially balanced ranges that match target customers, brand positioning, and price architecture.
• Manage OTB, budgets, sales, stock, markdowns, margin and profitability.
• Drive product development and sourcing across apparel categories, including supplier negotiations and costing.
• Monitor product and sales performance and take corrective actions.
• Develop and manage supplier relationships locally and internationally.
• Collaborate with Planning, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality, Supply Chain, Marketing and Visual Merchandising.

Required profile

• Matric / Grade 12 with a relevant qualification in Fashion Design, Clothing & Textiles, Buying, Retail Management or related field.
• 5+ years of apparel/fashion retail buying experience at senior level.
• Proven experience managing and developing Buyers and Junior Buyers.
• Strong understanding of the retail merchandise cycle and end‑to‑end buying process.
• Experience managing OTB, budgets, margins, pricing and commercial performance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder‑management skills.

Required skills

• Advanced MS Office / Excel
• Experience with buying, merchandising, ERP systems
• Experience with PLM systems