Buyer - 12 month parental leave contract

Since 1982, The Warehouse has been part of the moments that shape Kiwi lives. From first school uniforms and furnishing your first flat to dressing up your wardrobe and family milestones, generations of New Zealanders have grown up with our brand. That connection is at the heart of This Is Warehouse Country, celebrating the place The Warehouse holds in communities across Aotearoa.   

We’re at an exciting era for the business, the strategy is set and direction is clear and we are looking for amazing people to join to realise the vision! We're recruiting for a 12 month parental leave contract starting Dec 2026/Jan 2027 - if you're a seasoned Buyer with Home or Apparel Textile experience, this one is for you! 

As a Buyer, you will play a key role in shaping our offer balancing creativity with sound commercial judgement to deliver ranges and great curated collections that resonate with our Kiwi customers. You’ll own your categories and the end-to-end buying process, shape customer-focused ranges by building the right product mix, pricing and assortment strategy to deliver strong commercial outcomes and meet customer needs. 

Key responsibilities:   

• Category Management: Drive the performance of your category through effective range planning, supplier engagement, and commercial execution.  
• Drive in-season trading performance through analysis of sales, stock and margin outcomes, identifying opportunities and implementing actions to maximise category performance. 
• Trend Awareness: Stay ahead of trends to ensure our product offer remains fresh, relevant, and competitive.   
• Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain productive partnerships with local and global suppliers to secure the right products at the right price.   
• Commercial Execution: Develop and implement category strategies that maximise sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.   
• Insight-Led Decision Making: Leverage data, customer insights, and market trends to inform buying decisions and identify new opportunities.   
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with wider Merchandise, Planning, Store Operations and Marketing teams to ensure ranges are executed seamlessly across channels.   

Our products land on shelves, racks and eventually in the hands and wardrobes of our Kiwi shoppers! You’re passionate about your trade, customer driven focus in your thinking and have an innate curiosity for ‘how we can do better’ to provide the best products for our customers and commercially viable results for the business.  

What we’re looking for?    

• Buying experience: You’ll bring some previous experience in a (retail) buying role. Direct sourcing/private label experience highly desired!    
• Commercial Mindset: Strong analytical and financial skills, with the ability to balance creativity with business priorities.   
• Highly Collaborative: Strong stakeholder engagement skills, able to influence and work effectively across teams and functions.   
• Proactive & Decisive: Comfortable and confident working at pace and taking ownership to deliver tangible results.   

Come work with us as we look to build exceptional retail brands that customers love and our teams take pride in!   

You'll work alongside some of New Zealand's most experienced retail professionals, gaining exposure to products, suppliers, customers and commercial decisions that shape our business every day and help build its future!  

When you join us, we offer a range of benefits that work for you, your lifestyle and your career, including: 

• Discounts across our brands 
• Birthday leave and charity day off (for permanent team members)
• 26 weeks paid parental leave (for permanent team members)
• Free parking and EV charging at our Northshore Support Office 
• We value collaboration, connection and flexibility, with 1 day (Friday) WFH 
• Onsite gym and café at our Northcote Support Office 
• A range of wellbeing support and development opportunities