Babylonstoren has an exciting opportunity for a well-organised and detail-oriented Buying Assistant to join our lifestyle buying team. This role provides critical support to the buying function, ensuring a smooth administrative and logistical flow that enables products to arrive on time and to standard.
This is a pivotal support role that underpins the operational success of Babylonstoren’s lifestyle buying team. The Buying Assistant ensures that the administrative and logistical aspects of product development are meticulously managed, allowing the buyers to focus on sourcing and creative direction. With a commitment to precision and cross-departmental coordination, the Buying Assistant helps to ensure that each lifestyle product reflects Babylonstoren’s high standards and seasonal rhythm.
Requirements
- A relevant diploma or degree in retail buying, commerce, supply chain or a related field
- At least 3–5 years’ experience in a buying administration or procurement support role, ideally within a retail, lifestyle or homeware environment
- Excellent organisational skills with a strong attention to detail and a systematic, process-driven mindset
- Fluency in Afrikaans and English
- Comfortable working across multiple platforms and proficient in Excel, Outlook and data-entry tools
- Strong communication skills with a proactive, problem-solving approach
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage competing priorities effectively
- A passion for lifestyle product development and a deep appreciation of Babylonstoren’s brand identity and visual language
Suitably qualified applicants from designated groups will be given priority.
Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day administrative support to the lifestyle buyers, maintaining workflows that enable timely product launches
- Manage courier bookings, track local and international shipments, and proactively communicate updates or issues
- Oversee the full lifecycle of samples: request, receipt, tracking, organisation, and return where necessary
- Coordinate shoot logistics, ensuring that samples and required materials are prepared and delivered to the photography and creative teams on time
- Liaise with the procurement team to raise, monitor and update purchase orders with accuracy and urgency
- Populate and maintain internal systems with product details, specifications, imagery, pricing and launch dates
- Work collaboratively with the warehouse, e-commerce, creative and marketing teams to ensure a smooth product flow from development through to launch
- Maintain clear and up-to-date supplier records, and follow up on outstanding information, revisions or sample requests
- Assist in preparing internal documents such as product decks, costing sheets and seasonal tracking documents
- Act as a central point for operational coordination, ensuring that all moving parts are aligned and on track
