At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category growth, negotiate deals, and build strong supplier partnerships.
- Company: Join Co-op, a community-focused organisation that values its members.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, healthcare, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that shapes strategy and drives growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, negotiation skills, and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
£60,000 to £75,000 plus company car and great benefits (Work Level 5)
Manchester city centre, in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and coming into the office at least two to three times a week.
12-month fixed-term contract
We're looking for an experienced buying professional to join us as a Senior Buying Manager. You'll take ownership of a strategically important category, using your commercial expertise to drive growth, build strong supplier partnerships and deliver great value for our customers and members.
Why this role matters
As part of our commercial transformation, you'll play a key role in shaping category strategy and driving future growth. We're investing in capability, modernising our approach, and creating opportunities for experienced buyers to make a real impact. Working in line with Co‑op's values, you'll deliver commercial success in a way that's fair, sustainable and customer focused.
What you'll do
- Lead growth across your category areas, identifying emerging trends and shaping ranges that customers love
- Negotiate market-leading commercial terms and build partnerships that unlock innovation and long‑term success
- Own the commercial plan, including budgets, forecasts, performance measures and strategic delivery
- Collaborate with supply chain, technical, quality, marketing and merchandising teams to create a seamless end‑to‑end offer
- Prioritise work and build capability within your team, ensuring strong performance and clear focus
- Represent Co‑op across the supplier base and wider industry, championing high standards, strong relationships and commercial ambition
- Coach and inspire commercial analysts and assistants, helping to develop our next generation of buying talent
What you'll bring
We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:
- Significant buying, procurement, category management, or senior/national account management experience
- A proven track record of negotiation, delivering value, and building strategic, productive supplier partnerships
- Experience working with a range of commercial models and managing complex supplier relationships
- The confidence to take ownership, influence stakeholders and set clear direction in fast‑moving environments
- A commercially sharp, analytical mindset, with the ability to balance customer needs, market insight and commercial delivery
- The ability to lead, motivate and develop a team to deliver against ambitious plans
Why Co-op?
At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:
- An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
- 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
- A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
- Private healthcare
- Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
- 30% discount on Co‑op products and 10% off other brands
- Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
- Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
- 24/7 colleague support service
- Training and support for your development and career progression
- Cycle‑to‑work scheme
A place you’ll belong
We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work. We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.
Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.
Senior Buying Manager in Manchester employer: 4695 Broadford
Co-op Wholesale in Scunthorpe is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. With a hybrid working model, employees enjoy the flexibility of remote work while benefiting from a supportive team culture and ample opportunities for professional growth. The company provides competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to employee development, making it a rewarding place to build a career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buying Manager in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buying Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show 4695 Broadford that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, 4695 Broadford can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows 4695 Broadford that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let 4695 Broadford know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at 4695 Broadford
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
