men's footwear buyer

The
BATA GROUP
is one of the world's leading manufacturers and retailers of quality footwear. A global company with more than 30,000 employees, over 5,000 stores in more than 70 countries worldwide, Bata has been providing the best shoes at the best value for money, backed by unparalleled service, for more than 120 years. Since its founding in 1894 by Thomas Bata, the Company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to responsible and innovative business models in the belief that capital is not just money, but, above all, people, knowledge and core values. Today, Bata's pioneering principles enable the company to adapt quickly to market changes. It also continues Bata's long tradition of being sensitive to cultural and national differences and enables it to function proudly as an inclusive company in every country in which it operates.

With more than 270 shops in Italy, Spain and Portugal
AW LAB
is a laboratory of "urban sport style" trends that offers to its customers the coolest products of the moment, suggesting and inspiring them in creating their own style. Since opening its first store in 1997, with the name of Athletes World, AW LAB is part of the Bata Group. AW LAB proposes a wide collection of sneakers of the most famous international sport brands and a wide range of exclusive designs created in collaboration with them. The proposal is completed by a collection of apparel and accessories of the leading sportswear brand and by two private clothing labels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE

We are looking for a passionate and results-driven
Men's Footwear Buyer
to join our team at AW LAB. This role is critical to the execution of the buying strategy for our Men's Footwear category, ensuring the right product is delivered to the right consumers at the right time, maximising both commercial performance and AW LAB alignment.

As the Buyer for Men's Footwear, you will be responsible for building and managing a compelling product assortment that aligns with AW LAB positioning and resonates with our diverse customer base. Working closely with planning, merchandising, marketing, and vendor partners, you'll identify opportunities based on data and trend insights to deliver newness, grow market share, and drive revenue.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing seasonal buying strategies that reflect consumer demand, market trends, and AW LAB market positioning.
• Managing vendor relationship to secure exclusive products, optimized delivery windows, and favorable commercial terms.
• Analysing sales data and market intelligence to support decision-making and in-season trading.
• Collaborating cross-functionally with Planning, Merchandising, and Ecom teams to ensure product storytelling and execution consistency across all channels.
• Monitoring product performance and making timely adjustment to maximize sales and profitability.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Balancing global AW LAB strategy with local customer preferences (e.g. between Spain and Italy), and market trends.
• Managing delivery delays with Planning and Merchandising teams while maintaining assortment integrity.
• Navigating a competitive landscape and anticipating fast-changing consumer behavior.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Performance Management: Regularly reviews KPIs to optimize buying decisions.
• Process Adherence: Follow buying calendars (including deadlines) and operational workflows with discipline and accuracy.
• Pursues quality in accomplishing tasks, paying attention to details and verifying information.
• Works hand-in-hand with Planning and Merchandising to balance supply and demand.
• Partners with the Marketing team to align product launches and campaigns.
• Build strong relationships with the international brands partner.
• Coordinates with Visual Merchandising to ensure cohesive in-store presentation.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to engage with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Influences through data and trend-driven insights to align others with the buying strategy.
• Agile mindset to respond to business shifts with a collaborative approach.
• Solid understanding of Excel, ERP system.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior within the footwear segment.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 3-5 years of experience in a buying, merchandising role within fashion, footwear, or sportswear retail.
• Previous experience in a retail store environment (e.g., Store Manager, Assistant Manager, or Sales Associate) is a strong plus.
• Experience in trend forecasting and consumer insight analysis to support product selection.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

• Fluent in English – both written and spoken, as it is the primary working language across the organization.
• Knowledge of additional European languages (e.g., Spanish) is a plus.

LOCATION

• Limena (PD)
• Possibility of working in Smart Working for part of the week after an initial on-site training period.