Wholesale Buyer, Womenswear, 12 Month FTC

Department: Buying

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Reporting To: Head of Buying Wholesale - Georgina Thomas Torr

Description

We’re looking for a dynamic Womenswear Wholesale Buyer to drive divisional and partner strategy in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This is a dual role, combining wholesale account management with consignment and marketplace range building. You’ll be responsible for creating and trading compelling womenswear ranges while driving performance across both wholesale partners and digital marketplace channels.

Acting as the key link between River Island’s internal B&M teams and external brand partners, you’ll shape seasonal buys, identify opportunities, and drive performance against divisional KPIs. You’ll lead with pace, tackle challenges with a solutions-focused mindset, and empower your team to deliver strong commercial results.

Key Responsibilities

Curate commercially balanced ranges aligned with brand and divisional strategy.
Lead partner selection meetings, ensuring River Island’s brand DNA and product integrity are maintained.
Analyse trade to maximise performance and identify growth opportunities.
Represent Wholesale in pre-season strategy and sign-off meetings.
Manage the B2B platform (NuOrder), ensuring smooth order and delivery processes.
Lead and inspire a team, providing clear direction, support, and development opportunities.
Work with pace and agility, driving informed decisions to capitalise on market opportunities.

About You

Strong womenswear product and buying background with proven commercial results.
Confident communicator with excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Analytical, proactive, and solutions-focused, with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.
Experienced in leading and developing teams in a fast-moving retail environment.
Understanding of omni-channel retail and wholesale operations.
Experience with NuOrder or similar B2B platforms preferred.
Passionate, resilient, and collaborative, with a drive to deliver results.

About Us

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.

This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you:

💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!

🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through Reward Gateway!

🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.

🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!

💻 Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.

💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.

🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.

💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.

🩺 The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.

🚗 An allowance supporting your commute to work.

☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk.

Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.

About Us

Keeping You Safe

About River Island