Ralph Lauren Buying Manager, Luxury

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For over 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands, and international markets.

About the role

Maximize sales and profitability of the product line through strategic product selection that supports the customer experience. Manage execution and in-season performance of assortments by establishing strong partnerships with cross-functional teams and conducting trend/business analysis. Partner with the Brand Team and regional partners to drive a comprehensive strategy and support the company's long-range goals and divisional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Execute Product Strategy:
  • Formulate and profitably execute the selection, procurement, and promotion of merchandise.
  • Travel quarterly to Milan to assort the line, review product assortments with the Buying Lead to ensure seasonal strategies are achieved, and determine curated door assortments.
  • Develop and implement product strategies that align with financial plans and customer experience.
  • Make relevant product recommendations based on demonstrated knowledge of customer, marketplace, and historical trends.
  • Ensure product is balanced by price point, fashion degree, lifestyle/consumer archetype, and meets climate needs while protecting brand vision.
  • Complete current and historical analysis to support recommendations and decisions at the style/color level.
  • Present at all business and assortment meetings and influence decisions.
  • Partner with Merchandise Planning, Global Brand Planning, Brand Merchandising, Brand Image, and RLE partners weekly and monthly to implement strategic changes in the business to improve profitability and productivity.
  • Address seasonal scorecard needs and lead global commonality discussions to ensure the brand is consistently represented across various points of distribution.
  • Support and recommend key looks, marketing looks, and runway items.
  • Partner with Brand Image to ensure alignment with product and customer experience strategies in stores and online.
  • Identify growth, maintain, and down-trending businesses with the objective of improving productivity.
  • Partner with planning to assess risk/opportunity to retail sales and gross margin.
  • Review and communicate deadlines, ensuring accuracy of outputs from direct report(s).
  • Regularly visit stores and competition in key markets to stay abreast of market trends and apply learnings to current and future assortments.
• Developing Talent:
  • Lead by example; engage and inspire the team.
  • Develop direct report(s) and promote an environment that fosters respect for the ideas of others and supports ongoing collaboration to execute business strategies.
  • Provide coaching and feedback on a consistent basis to direct reports.
  • Build and manage succession planning for each direct report.
  • Manage daily priorities, performance, and work product of all direct reports.
• Building Relationships:
  • Partner with Brand Merchandising to ensure business needs are met.
  • Partner with Lead to ensure strategies align with divisional and customer experience strategies.
  • Establish and grow a strong level of communication and partnership with business partners in and outside of the immediate cross-functional team (RLS, RLE, Brand Image, Merchandise Planning, Allocations).

Requirements

• Ability to direct and manage multiple activities.
• Understanding of different system capabilities.
• High level of accuracy, detail orientation, and organizational skills.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to complete current and historical analysis of the business to support recommendations and decisions at the color/style level.
• Creative, assertive, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Clear grasp of the product lifecycle.
• Expertise in customer, marketplace, and product knowledge.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, including the ability to motivate, negotiate, and influence effectively across departments and divisions.
• Ability to develop strong relationships throughout the organization.
• Willingness to travel internationally quarterly as well as frequent store visits.
• Understanding of tailored clothing is a plus.