EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• A demonstrable track record of operating in a buying department, gained within a non-food (and ideally hard goods) retail organisation.
• Experience in developing own brand products and the associated critical path steps.
• Experience working with Far East suppliers.
• Ideally 3rd party supplier management experience
• Multi-channel background with an understanding of the implications of the retail and online channels on the product selections.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, with a good level of computer literacy and numeracy

KEY CAPABILITIES

• Commercially astute and poses strong analytical skills, able to make sense of complex and logical problems quickly with the ability to turn data into action.
• A clear thinker, able to articulate and build confidence in a recommended way forward.
• Customer focused, with the ability to recognise the customer and commercial trade offs, articulating the case for change with supporting customer and commercial benefits.
• Naturally planned and organised, juggling multiple time horizons, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands to drive the greatest value.
• A good influencer and engager, able to build and nurture relationships with suppliers, yet be positively demanding.
• Confidence, patience, politeness, tact and diplomacy, when dealing with difficult situations.
• A team player, able to collaborate with others whilst positively challenging and welcoming feedback to drive self improvement.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Supporting the Buyer in developing and delivering the department’s buying and category strategy.
• Taking responsibility for parts of the product range—sourcing, designing, and negotiating to help achieve sales and margin targets.
• Monitoring market trends and competitors to ensure our range is both differentiated and competitive.
• Managing pricing and promotional strategies to ensure commercial success.
• Supporting supplier relationships, including negotiating supplier funding and commercial terms.
• Ensuring critical paths are met, including QA and packaging requirements.
• Monitoring product performance and customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Working with internal teams to ensure compliance with UK/EU legislation and quality standards.