Hiring Now | Girls Footwear Buyer | Kuilsrivier, Cape Town, Western Cape | Full-Time Position Available

Ackermans, one of South Africa’s most established and widely loved value retail brands, is seeking a skilled, trend-focused, and commercially driven Girls Footwear Buyer to join their buying team at the Ackermans Support Centre in Kuilsrivier, Cape Town. This is a high-impact head office role that sits at the very heart of the product lifecycle — responsible for blending trend insights with retail data to shape must-have kids’ shoes, manage seasonal ranges, negotiate with global and local suppliers, and drive sales performance across Ackermans’ national store network. If you are passionate about kids’ fashion, energized by product development, and motivated by finding smart solutions to engineer value for South African families, Ackermans offers you an outstanding platform to do exactly that within one of South Africa’s most active retail environments. Don’t miss this opportunity — vacancies are filling fast. Apply today.

Job Overview

About the Role

The Ackermans Buying team based at the Support Centre in Kuilsrivier, Cape Town, is the creative and commercial powerhouse behind the products that land on the shelves of hundreds of stores nationwide. As the Girls Footwear Buyer, you will take full ownership of the development, selection, and procurement of balanced, appealing, and durable footwear ranges that align with the brand’s value proposition. This is a role that demands both an eye for upcoming fashion trends and a highly analytical trading mindset — the ability to read sales data, identify consumer preferences, and work closely with suppliers to negotiate prices that keep quality high and costs accessible.

The successful candidate will be self-motivated, collaborative, and capable of driving the critical path from concept to delivery in a fast-paced retail buying office. You will work in tandem with design, planning, quality assurance, and sourcing teams, ensuring that production deadlines are met and that the product assortment represents the optimal mix of style, fit, and value. This is an incredible opportunity for an ambitious buyer to deepen their category expertise and make a visible impact on the kids’ fashion industry.

Key Responsibilities

Range Development & Selection

• Develop and execute a commercially balanced product range in Girls Footwear that drives sales and aligns with the target market’s lifestyle.

• Build seasonal ranges with a strong, non-negotiable focus on shoe fit, comfort, durability, child-friendly function, and value.

• Integrate visual merchandising targets and store layout footprints into range construction plans.

Financial and Market Analysis

• Analyze weekly and monthly sales reports, customer insights, and competitors’ offerings to make data-backed buying adjustments.

• Monitor sell-through percentages, product performance, and in-store stock levels to take proactive markdowns or replenishment actions.

• Translate regional trading performance data into actionable product strategies for future seasons.

Supplier Management & Price Engineering

• Manage supplier relationships, source new production partners, and negotiate unit costs to secure competitive retail margins.

• Engineer footwear products creatively (optimizing fabrications, outsoles, and trims) to meet targeted price-points without sacrificing wearability or safety.

• Set up clear, binding critical paths with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery of seasonal ranges.

Production, Fit & Quality Execution

• Coordinate with design and technical teams to approve final product fits, samples, CAD designs, color strike-offs, and materials.

• Work extensively with a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system to track developments and input system specifications accurately.

• Ensure all imported and locally sourced products comply with South African safety regulations and internal quality standards.

Minimum Requirements

Educational Qualifications

• Grade 12 Certificate (Matric) — essential minimum requirement

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Clothing Production, Product Development, Merchandising, or a related commercial field — highly advantageous

Experience

• A minimum of 3–5 years of proven, hands-on retail experience in the procurement, buying, or development of Footwear products — essential

• Strong experience managing local and international supplier networks, managing critical paths, and negotiating cost prices

Technical Skills

• Competency working with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems and corporate ERP systems.

• Strong ability to evaluate, distinguish, and approve color strike-offs, fabrications, and CAD design files.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with intermediate to advanced skills in Excel for margin calculations and data analysis.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent numerical and analytical skills, allowing you to accurately interpret retail sales and margin data.

• Sound merchant skills and a robust “trader mentality” that focuses on stock turns and profitability.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to present seasonal ranges confidently to senior leadership.

Core Values

Value-Driven Quality

At Ackermans, value is not just about low prices; it is about offering the best possible product for the price. The Girls Footwear Buyer must be committed to product engineering — finding innovative ways to design footwear that lasts and fits beautifully, while remaining affordable for everyday South African households.

Collaborative Partnering

A great buyer does not work in a silo. You will sit at the crossroads of planning, sourcing, design, and external manufacturing partners. True success in this role relies on sharing information clearly, aligning on critical path milestones, and working collectively to resolve production and supply chain challenges.

Commercial Agility

The fashion cycle moves incredibly fast, and customer demands change seasonally. Successful buyers bring high energy, commercial curiosity, and a sense of urgency to the table — keeping a close eye on the market and moving decisively to capitalize on emerging footwear trends before competitors do.

Career Growth Opportunities

Ackermans’ Buying department offers ambitious product professionals a structured progression path into commercial leadership. With a proven track record of sales growth, strong supplier negotiations, and team leadership, your career can grow along this path:

Buyer → Senior Buyer
Senior Buyer → Buying Manager
Buying Manager → Head of Buying
Head of Buying → Commercial Director

Frequently Asked Questions

What salary package is offered for the Girls Footwear Buyer role?

The salary for this head office position is market-related and will be discussed during the interview and hiring process. Ackermans benchmarks buying salaries competitively within the South African retail sector, and the package will be aligned with your years of footwear experience, supplier negotiation history, and category expertise.

Is this role based in Cape Town, and does it require travel?

Yes. This is a full-time, head office role based at the Ackermans Support Centre in Kuilsrivier, Cape Town. While the day-to-day focus is on office-based tasks (system work, sample reviews, and meetings), occasional local or international travel may be required to visit factories, audit suppliers, or conduct market-trend research.

Why is specialized footwear experience required for this role?

Footwear has highly unique development, fit, and manufacturing characteristics compared to standard apparel (such as last shapes, mold costs, and specific material safety guidelines). A minimum of 3 to 5 years of specialized footwear buying experience ensures you understand these complexities and can negotiate effectively with factories from day one.

When does this vacancy close, and how quickly should I apply?

The closing date for this vacancy has not been confirmed. Given the competitive nature of buying roles at Pepkor head offices, we advise submitting your application immediately. Once a pool of suitable candidates is identified, the application window may close without notice.

How to Apply

To apply for the Girls Footwear Buyer position, submit your application through the Ackermans careers portal at careers.ackermans.co.za. Ensure your profile contains an updated CV, copy of your ID, matric certificate, and any relevant portfolio of work or qualifications.

• Closing Date: To be confirmed (Apply immediately)

• Feedback: If you have not been contacted within four (4) weeks of the closure of this advertisement, please consider your application unsuccessful.

• Selection Policy: Internal applicants and candidates who support Employment Equity and team diversity will be given preference, provided all minimum requirements are met.

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