Head of Buying

About Hunkemöller 

At Hunkemöller, we create moments that matter, together. As Europe’s leading lingerie brand, we combine heritage, innovation, and a deep understanding of our customer to build inspiring products and experiences. We are transforming the way we work across product creation, sourcing, and go-to-market, and this role will be central to that journey. If you are energized by pace, product, and people leadership, this is an opportunity to make a real impact. 

Your impact 

You will lead the Buying function to deliver a compelling, profitable, and customer-focused product offer across all channels. 

You will own end-to-end seasonal buying execution, ensuring strong range architecture, on-time delivery, and commercially sound buy decisions. 

You will play a key leadership role within the Product organisation, balancing strategic direction with hands-on execution and cross-functional collaboration. 

You will be accountable for category performance, driving margin, value, and long-term business growth. 

Reporting line and key partnerships 

• Reporting to the Director of Buying & Technical, you will work as a senior leader within the Product organisation. 

• You will partner closely with Design, Merchandising, Technical, Operations, Marketing, IT, Logistics, CSR, suppliers, and channel teams. 

• You will build strong relationships across the business to align product vision, sourcing decisions, and go-to-market execution. 

What you will do 

Lead product excellence 

• Lead and inspire the Buying team to deliver aspirational, brand-right, and commercially strong product ranges. 

• Embed deep customer understanding into assortment decisions, ensuring relevance across categories, channels, and seasons. 

• Partner cross-functionally with Design, Merchandising, Technical, Marketing, and Operations to deliver ranges that are both exciting and executable. 

• Drive excellence in product build-up, buy readiness, and launch execution. 

Own sourcing, costing, and value creation 

• Lead a proactive and data-driven approach to costing, supplier planning, and forecast accuracy. 

• Use open costing and smart negotiation to improve margin while protecting product quality and brand standards. 

• Drive consolidation strategies across categories, components, and materials to simplify the product landscape and unlock scale benefits. 

• Build strong supplier partnerships and increase transparency across the value chain to create long-term commercial advantage. 

Deliver end-to-end execution 

• Own end-to-end Buying execution, ensuring strong governance, clear prioritisation, and on-time delivery across the critical path. 

• Act as a senior gatekeeper for key milestones, ensuring product development moves forward with pace and discipline. 

• Lead go-to-market execution with cross-functional partners so launches are trade-ready and aligned to commercial goals. 

• Strengthen ways of working, data quality, and operational discipline across the product lifecycle. 

Drive commercial performance 

• Work in close partnership with Merchandising on seasonal trade, range architecture, and in-season performance. 

• Shape line plans, option depth, and price architecture that reflect customer needs, channel strategy, and brand direction. 

• Create a strong trading culture that drives productivity, agility, and proactive decision-making. 

• Make commercial decisions that balance product ambition, margin, speed, risk, and production feasibility. 

Lead people and transformation 

• Coach and develop a high-performing Buying team with clear accountability, strong capability building, and succession planning. 

• Act as a transformation leader, embedding new ways of working, governance, and operating discipline across the Product organisation. 

• Bring energy, clarity, and leadership to senior discussions, helping shape business planning and strategic direction. 

What success looks like 

• Customer-right, brand-right ranges that are clear, relevant, and commercially strong. 

• On-time, trade-ready launches supported by strong critical-path ownership and cross-functional alignment. 

• Improved margin and better value creation through smart costing, negotiation, and sourcing choices. 

• A high-performing Buying team with strong ownership, clear priorities, and room to grow. 

Who you are 

• You are passionate about product and deeply connected to the customer. 

• Deep understanding of the lingerie, apparel, and swim market, with proven end-to-end business acumen and commercial instinct. 

• Strategic, analytical thinker with the ability to translate insight into clear execution and prioritisation. 

• Proven leader who inspires teams and drives change in a fast-paced retail environment. 

• Collaborative, confident in constructive challenge, and acts with integrity. 

• Commercially astute, resilient, and outcome-driven. 

• Challenges the status quo and delivers results under pressure. 

Skills & Competencies 

• Proven senior Buying leadership experience within fashion retail, with deep end-to-end ownership from concept through to production and trade. 

• Strong, hands-on experience in open costing, including cost-breakdown analysis, margin engineering, and supplier negotiations. 

• Demonstrated ability to drive material/component consolidation strategies—leveraging the Toolbox—across categories to improve margin, speed, and operational efficiency. 

• Solid experience in production planning, including capacity considerations, lead-time optimisation, and alignment of buy decisions to GTM calendars. 

• Experience influencing upstream value-chain cost drivers, including engagement with second- and third-tier suppliers and/or nominated sub-suppliers (raw materials, components, and processing/finishing). 

• Deep understanding of product build-up, including option depth, buy quantities, phasing, and readiness for on-time, trade-ready launches. 

• Commercially astute, able to balance product ambition, customer needs, cost, margin, and execution realities. 

• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills. 

• Ability to manage ambiguity, set priorities, and deliver under pressure. 

• Proficient in Buying systems (PLM, SAP) and critical-path management. 

• Comfortable operating at pace, making prioritisation and trade-off decisions in complex, fast-moving environments.