Careers at The Just Group

About Portmans

Portmans is one of Australia's most iconic fashion retail brands for women with over 90 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. Known for offering a wide range of trendy and stylish outfits, Portmans focuses on delivering high-quality, on-trend fashion for young women, often with a mix of casual, workwear and formal styles. Portmans is a key brand within the Just Group, a prominent Australian retailer with a strong presence in both Australia and New Zealand. The Just Group encompasses five renowned brands - Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E, and Dotti and operates over 700 stores across the region.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Product – Portmans, you will be responsible for understanding the brands target market, developing commercial on trend ranges that will enable the department to achieve sales targets and intake margins, with on time delivery.

Your passion, results driven mindset and experience will play an integral part in this role to drive the success of the Tops department across both Australia and New Zealand. Based in our Support Office on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, you will have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in Womenswear Buying/Product development, with initiative to hit the ground running.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Decision-Making: Buyers make critical decisions that impact inventory and sales, allowing you to influence the company’s success
• Collaboration: You'll work closely with QA, marketing, and planning, fostering teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Trends: Research trends, product innovation & continually review competitors to stay at the forefront of the market
• Financials: Achieve budgeted sales and margin through continuous review of performance, market opportunities, product trends and supplier negotiations
• Quality: Confidently execute the fit process against critical timelines with high quality expectations. Demonstrate an understanding of product construction, fabric/materials and their performance in styling, durability and care
• Customer Focus: You play a key role in understanding the market and customer preferences, ensuring the right products reach the market
• Dynamic Environment: The fast-paced nature of the fashion industry keeps the role exciting and challenging

Skills & Experience

• Strong Negotiation Skills: The role involves negotiating with suppliers and vendors to achieve quality products in line with margin targets
• Diverse Product Knowledge: Knowledge of materials, and market demands, with proven buying and product development experience
• Product Development: Proven buying and/or product development experience with a minimum of 5 years in a womenswear product role
• Production: Demonstrate experience in managing the critical path from end to end with a strong knowledge of production timelines
• Results driven: Minimum 5-year experience in a Product developer/Buyer role with proven record in delivering results
• Relationships:  Ability to build key stake holder relationships across the business, both internal and external
• Financials: Confident understanding of departmental financials and budgets and a proven track record in trading a business to achieve sales and GP growth
• Team: Proven team management and leadership skills, with experience in mentoring and developing direct reports

Perks

• Generous staff discount and access to our sample sales
• Central office location based on St Kilda Rd, with direct access to the picturesque Fawkner Park
• Work closely within a high performing, supportive and collaborative environment
• Engage in continuous learning and development programs to enhance your skills and foster personal and professional growth
• Coffee lover? Indulge in daily subsidized coffee and food options at our onsite café

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our established and highly successful team. If this sounds like the role for you - Apply now!