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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and develop category strategies, negotiate with suppliers, and drive sales growth.
- Company: Join a dynamic retail company based in St Albans, focused on innovative merchandise.
- Benefits: Enjoy coaching for career growth, competitive salary, and potential remote work options.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant team influencing retail offers and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in buying/category management, strong negotiation skills, and analytical mindset required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with popular delivery platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Based in St Albans. Are you a commercially-minded Buyer with a passion for retail? We’re looking for a dynamic and driven individual to take ownership of a portfolio of small to medium-sized merchandise and services categories, helping to shape and grow our retail offer across the UK. As a Buyer, you’ll play a key role in driving sales, margins, and supplier income through the development of smart category strategies and distinctive, market-leading propositions. Working closely with the Senior Buyers and Head of Trading, you’ll influence every aspect of the customer offer — from price and promotions to range and space.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Own and develop category management strategies across your portfolio
- Use data and consumer insights to shape a competitive and differentiated product offer
- Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers, managing contracts, terms, and promotional plans
- Partner with internal teams on pricing, promotional calendars, planograms and space planning
- Drive income through supplier-funded activations — online, in-store and forecourt
- Take a leading role in growing our third-party retail sales channels (UberEats, JustEat, Deliveroo)
- Contribute to wider Commercial team initiatives and innovation opportunities
- Receive coaching and development to grow your commercial career within the business
About You:
- Minimum 3 years in a buying/category management role, ideally within retail or forecourt/convenience
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
- Experience working with suppliers, wholesalers, and third-party logistics
- Highly analytical, confident with Excel and market data (IRI, Nielsen, etc.)
- Clear communicator who thrives on cross-functional collaboration
- Capable of building strategic supplier relationships and securing long-term value
- Able to manage budgets, track performance, and drive continuous improvement
Please apply now.
Contact Detail:
PRS Recruitment Group Ltd T/A Refuel Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in retail and category management. Understanding current market dynamics will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to our team at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the buying and retail sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even referrals for opportunities at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with data analysis and supplier negotiations in detail. We value candidates who can demonstrate their analytical skills and negotiation successes, so have specific examples ready.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to collaborate across teams. Highlight any past experiences where you worked with marketing, logistics, or finance to achieve a common goal, as this is crucial for the role at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in buying or category management, especially within retail. Use specific examples that demonstrate your commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for retail and your understanding of the role. Mention how your experience aligns with the responsibilities listed, such as developing category strategies and managing supplier relationships.
Highlight Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical skills, emphasise your proficiency with data analysis tools like Excel and your experience with market data sources. Provide examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
Showcase Collaboration Experience: The job involves cross-functional collaboration, so include examples of how you've successfully worked with internal teams in the past. Highlight any projects where you partnered with others to achieve common goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at PRS Recruitment Group Ltd T/A Refuel Talent
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your understanding of market trends and how they influence buying decisions. Highlight specific examples from your previous roles where you successfully developed category strategies that drove sales and margins.
✨Demonstrate Negotiation Skills
Since the role involves leading commercial negotiations, come equipped with examples of past negotiations you've handled. Discuss the outcomes and how you managed supplier relationships to secure favourable terms.
✨Utilise Data Effectively
As a Buyer, being analytical is key. Be ready to talk about how you've used data and consumer insights in your previous roles to shape product offerings. Familiarise yourself with tools like Excel and market data sources such as IRI or Nielsen.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Prepare to share experiences where you collaborated with different departments, such as marketing or logistics, to achieve common goals. Highlight your communication skills and ability to build strategic relationships.
