Ralph Lauren Buyer Special Capsules EMEA

Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview
This role leads the execution of special product collections across EMEA, focusing on high-profile sports partnerships (Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open) and exclusive brand collaborations. Acting as the commercial owner, you'll orchestrate cross-functional teams to bring these collections to market-from assortment planning and pricing through launch and performance tracking. The position requires balancing global brand strategy with regional market realities while managing the end-to-end commercial process for specialty lines, including Travel Retail offerings and regional marketing activations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Buyer Special Capsules - EMEA
* Responsible for EMEA execution of sports partnerships, regional initiatives, and brand-driven programs, ensuring alignment with global strategy and local market needs
* Drive cross-functional coordination across Buying and Planning, Creative, Retail, Marketing, Ecom, Customer Services, Fulfillment and Brand Team to enable seamless planning and execution
* Partner closely with the regional brand teams to ensure successful setup, launch, and performance of Global Capsules, maximizing impact across EMEA
* Strengthen cross-brand collaboration to unlock synergies, streamline processes, and deliver best-in-class results across all initiatives
* Lead assortment, pricing, and forecasting for the product line, ensuring alignment with financial targets and market strategy
* Maintain and update all line details in the system, ensuring accuracy
* Monitor weekly business performance (sell-in, sell-out, gross margin, and key KPIs) to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
* Benchmark assortment and pricing decisions against competitive activity and broader market dynamics to inform strategic choices
* Prepare and deliver assortment presentations for line opening meetings, clearly articulating strategy, rationale, and commercial expectations
* Track and communicate performance insights to key stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making and continuous improvement Sports Partnerships
* Lead EMEA execution for major global sports partnerships, including Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open, MLB, and Golf initiatives (Ryder Cup, St Andrews, Evian)
* Define and implement EMEA distribution strategy for all partnership-related product launches
* Ensure cross-brand alignment across the region to deliver cohesive and consistent execution
* Oversee full system readiness, including EU pricing, PLIR setup, and market availability
* Manage the complete go-to-market process, from kickoff through market launch and post-launch performance
* Collaborate cross-functionally to build DTC distribution and buying strategies, ensuring strong commercial execution
* Partner with Brand teams on assortment planning, distribution frameworks, and inventory management
* Work with BI and Brand to define in-store presentation, merchandising strategy, and timing
* Partner with Marketing to place and manage all orders for officials' uniforms, ensuring accurate forecasting, delivery, and YoY stock management
* Coordinate all Marketing product orders, overseeing order placement, delivery tracking, and inventory flow
* Collaborate with Marketing to select product for player gifting and suit-guest programs
* Partner with Marketing and Wholesale to create and manage CYO blank orders for pop-up activations Brand-Driven Initiatives
* Lead EMEA execution for brand-driven activations. Ensure alignment with global brand direction, adapting for regional needs and commercial opportunities Regional Initiatives with Marketing
* Support regional activation projects by managing the product strategy and ensuring cross-functional alignment Travel Retail
* Manage development and distribution of special-product assortments tailored for Travel Retail, ensuring alignment with channel strategy and consumer expectations

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

* Exceptional communication skills, enabling clear alignment and effective cross-functional collaboration
* Strong relationship-building capabilities, with a proven ability to partner across diverse teams and functions
* Proficiency with key business systems, including GFE, Pricesmart, SAP, and related tools
* Advanced PowerPoint and presentation-deck creation skills, with experience crafting compelling product stories
* Solid command of the Microsoft Office suite, including Excel for analysis and reporting
* Confident product presentation abilities, comfortable presenting to cross-functional teams and leadership
* International exposure through work or study, bringing a global mindset and cultural agility
* Good understanding of the retail environment and in-store execution
* Minimum 3 years of experience as a Buyer or in a comparable merchandising or planning role
* Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage
* Genuine passion for Diversity & Inclusion, with a commitment to fostering inclusive ways of working
* Enthusiasm for teamwork and direct, transparent communication, contributing to a positive and high-performing culture