THE ROLE & THE TEAM As a Sports Buyer Outdoor (all genders), you are part of a high performing and target driven team. Through your industry knowledge and passion for the Running market you are creating new and innovative ways to connect with consumers whilst delivering strong results. You buy and develop your own brand portfolio, with ownership and accountability of unit KPIs. You develop and implement assortment and business model strategies for your portfolio and actively contribute to setting and delivering unit strategy and targets. You use your strong negotiation skills to deliver success to your unit and to meet the company’s growth plans. Combining your analytical skills, eye for trend and commercial acumen to serve the customer in the best possible ways. A culture of fashion, analytics, and industry innovation. Learn more about Zalando Category Management in our landing page HERE and in the interview with Anna-Maria HERE. INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. And this vision starts with our hiring - we do not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, personal expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or disability status. You are welcome to leave out your picture, age, or marital status from your application. We only assess candidates on their qualifications and merit. We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support you throughout the hiring process. do.BETTER - our diversity & inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/dobetter-our-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy Our employee resource groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/our-employee-resource-groups WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING) As a Buyer in the Sports Outdoor category, you will play a key role in shaping the product assortment and driving the commercial success of the portfolio. Your responsibilities will include: Owning and managing key brand relationships to ensure long-term partnerships that align with Zalando’s strategic objectives. Proactive ownership of your portfolio that balances credibility and trend appeal with commercial viability. Determining the creative direction of your assortment, identifying trends, sourcing new brands, negotiating the best terms for Zalando. Monitoring performance KPIs and implementing initiatives to drive profitability. Coordinating with internal stakeholders across marketing and logistics teams to ensure smooth execution of your portfolio strategy. Together with merchandising, being responsible for defining your brands seasonal strategy and beyond including budget and assortment planning, whilst consulting the unit owner and strategically important stakeholders. In season monitoring and reviewing the performance of your brands, making recommendations, and taking action based on valid numbers. Maintaining and developing excellent relationships with our external brand partners, always challenging and evolving business to support the Category and Zalando strategy. Working together with our brand partners to improve collaboration and deliver on your brand and assortment strategy. WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Business or comparable field. Minimum 5 years of buying experience in a Head Office environment or within an e-commerce retailer Strong passion and understanding for Sports with industry experience Excellent analytical skills, knowledge in MS Office/Google and combining the passion for numbers with fashion and trends. Excellent strategic mindset with the ability to align with strategic pillars and translate market developments into an effective assortment strategy. Ability to connect strategic plans with timely and complete execution, ensuring strong commercial results. Proven track record of new business acquisitions and incentives that deliver results Negotiation is in your blood and you are a strong communicator with suppliers and other stakeholders. Quick thinking and proactive attitude, which also means you keep on top of things in a fast paced environment. Team focused attitude whilst ensuring strong independent working practises. OUR OFFER Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. Employee shares program 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners 2 paid volunteering days a year Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year 27 days of vacation a year (for Zalando SE) Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement) Family services, including counseling and support Health and wellbeing options (including Gympass) Mental health support and coaching available