Buyer South Kensington, England
Job description
The V&A – the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance – is at one of the most exciting times in its history. Housing 2.3m objects that span 5000 years of human ingenuity, alongside a world-leading exhibition programme, the V&A’s ambitious strategy will see it expand to multiple sites in London
At the heart of this transformation, the V&A Audience, Commercial and Digital division is responsible for making our visitors feel part of the V&A’s growing family of site. This division leads the V&A’s brand, audience, reputation, digital, front of house and commercial (retail, catering, eCommerce, publishing, brand licencing and ticketing) activity, building a lasting relationship with current and future audiences, driving value and revenue in the process.
The Commercial and Digital Development Department (trading as V&A Enterprises Ltd) is the commercial arm of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Our business is to generate revenue, using the V&A brand, collections and exhibitions here in London and across the world. 100% of our profits are returned to the museum, helping to fund its programme and collections for the future. The famous V&A Shops are considered a benchmark in museum trading across the world, and set a standard to which others aspire.
Prints form an essential part of our product ranges, reflecting the breadth of artistic expression found in our exhibitions and permanent collections as well as an opportunity to showcase exciting contemporary artists. Our print range includes a combination of new and exclusive limited editioned artworks by external artists as well as reproductions of archive material from our vast collection.
Our range of stationery and paper products includes lines that we design and develop in-house and exclusive artist collaborations, complemented by a curated selection of products chosen from the wider market.
Purpose of role
This role sits within the Retail team. As Buyer, you will be responsible for sourcing and developing paper products including print, stationery, postcards, and greetings cards for all V&A shops including exhibitions.
Together with the Buying team, you will interpret the content of our temporary exhibitions and permanent collections and use this to inform the sourcing and development of a bespoke product range.
You will work as part of the Retail team to build product ranges that reflect the varied needs of our V&A audience, contributing to a retail offer worthy of the V&A brand and reputation.
You will also be responsible for the line management of the Junior Buyer (books), overseeing their product categories and leading through example, creating a positive working environment.
The ideal candidate will have significant buying experience, with a customer driven approach and knowledge of the retail industry. The ideal candidate will also have experience of working with artists and illustrators on exclusive commissions.
This role necessitates the ability to juggle multiple projects with attention to detail, requiring a highly organised and flexible individual.
Reporting to the Senior Buyer, this role is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled Buyer looking for collaborative, creative and ambitious projects.
Deadline for applications - 15 May Midnight
