Buying Director - Department Stores - Al Tayer
Job description / Role
Employment: Full Time
About us
We are looking for an exceptional Buying Director to lead our ever-growing Al Tayer Insignia Department Store Division team. You will play an integral part in the growth of one of the region's leading luxury and fashion companies, Al Tayer Insignia.
As a leader in luxury retail in the Middle East, Al Tayer Group's retail division, Al Tayer Insignia, hosts a portfolio of some of the world's best luxury brands in the fashion, jewellery, home, and department store categories. Complementing its position in luxury retail, Al Tayer Insignia has also built new frontiers in lifestyle retail, representing leading brands in the beauty, home, fashion and hospitality sectors.Our brands include Bloomingdales, Harvey Nichols, Armani and newly added Gymshark and The White Company, to name just a few!
About the role
Reporting directly to the VP of Buying, this role is key to developing and executing product strategies that drive growth across both physical and digital channels.
The Buying Director, Department Stores, is responsible for developing and executing innovative product strategies that drive sales and margin growth across both physical and digital channels. Reporting directly to the VP of Buying, this role ensures the delivery of exciting, profitable, and customer-focused product assortments that reflect market trends and evolving consumer needs.The Buying Director leads and mentors a high-performing team, working closely with cross-functional departments to deliver a best-in-class product offering. With a strong focus on profitability and long-term growth, this role is critical in shaping the future of the department store division by keeping the customer at the heart of every decision and staying ahead of emerging market trends.
Key responsibilities:
Strategic leadership- Define and execute the overall product strategy for the department store division.
- Optimize product assortments across all channels to deliver a best-in-class customer offering.
- Play a key role in business development, including new brand acquisition and category expansion.
- Spearhead buying strategy for new store projects in line with company growth plans.
- Oversee the product lifecycle from planning to sell-through.
- Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and ensure strong financial control.
- Use data and insights to drive product decisions and mitigate risk.
- Lead seasonal buy sign-offs and align with merchandising leadership on strategy and performance.
- Partner with planning, marketing, commercial, and customer experience teams to amplify brand presence and customer engagement.
- Lead the creation and execution of seasonal pop-ups and events.
- Support VP Buying in brand relationships and strategic presentations.
- Lead and inspire a high-performing buying team.
- Mentor and develop team members for growth and succession.
- Shape the team structure as the business evolves.
Qualifications & experience:
- 15+ years of experience in buying/merchandising roles, including 8+ years in a senior buying management role.
- Deep expertise in product lifecycle, wholesale and franchise models, and global buying strategies.
- Proven success in managing large budgets and driving product and margin performance.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
- Ability to travel frequently for market visits and brand meetings.
About the Company
Established in 1979, Al Tayer Group is a privately-held, diversified company with operations in 12 countries in the Middle East and beyond. With over 7,800 employees from 95 different nationalities, the Group has its headquarters in Dubai, UAE.
Al Tayer Group operates leading, quality-focused businesses in automobile sales and service, luxury and lifestyle retail, perfumes and cosmetics distribution, engineering as well as interiors contracting. The Groups portfolio includes several of the worlds leading brands such as Armani, Bvlgari, Banana Republic, Ford, Ferrari, Gucci, Gap, Harvey Nichols and Maserati.The Group operates over 180 stores across multiple markets in the Middle East. In addition, Al Tayer Group has investments in commercial real estate, contracting, supply chain management, precision tools manufacturing and travel agency services.
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