Category Buyer

Overview of the role We have big growth plans for 2025, and this opportunity is to manage Smoking Cessation, Baby, Dental, Footcare and Toiletries Category budgets through to growing market share, sales and margin. You’ll also manage the online in-Pharmacy ranges. You’ll be analytical, very customer and insights driven as well as adept at problem solving through to finding creative solutions. This role is hybrid working, with 3 days in the office or on site visits and 2 days working from home. Main Responsibilities Deliver sales, margin and funding to meet financial objectives set in Budgets and forecasts for defined categories both in store and on-line Develop and deliver promotional programme for each category to maximise sales and profit in order to meet financial and volume targets. Ensure promotional performance is reviewed and revised to deliver a promotional plan to excite the customer and ensure that the proposition is competitive Deliver comprehensive and robust range reviews on time and to budget. Ensure that range performance is continually reviewed and remedial action taken where appropriate following Senior Buyer approval Continually monitor range level pricing to ensure all products are competitive and profit maximised within agreed pricing strategy guidelines Manage and develop supplier relationships across all categories to ensure the effective sourcing of products and to maximise supplier funding in order to achieve the budgeted supplier funding target. Monitor the competition and supplier activity on a monthly basis to ensure the maximum level of market and competitor awareness to facilitate appropriate remedial action where required and identify sales and profit opportunities Take responsibility for ensuring a thorough knowledge of the market by keeping up to date with all relevant market information supplied by IRI/Kantar/Mintel etc. Ensure that key market trends are represented in all defined categories on a timely basis and in-line with the competition To provide timely and accurate communication to stores and the operations team to ensure success in delivery of range reviews, promotional plans and other category initiatives Work closely with the Space Planning team as required and as directed by the Senior Buyer to ensure delivery of the most appropriate micro space planograms to ensure customer expectations are met and sales and profit budgets and forecasts are achieved. Work closely with the Stock Planning team as required and as directed by the senior Buyer to ensure availability of stock and resolution of supplier related issues to ensure customer expectations are met and sales and profit budgets and forecasts are achieved. Key knowledge and skills required: Good knowledge of retail buying, ideally FMCG experience Proven track record in similar role Excellent Communication skills Excellent Negotiation Skills High Degree of Computer Literacy Strong planning and organisational skills Ability to work to time pressures in a fast moving and rapidly changing market Good financial awareness and ability to interpret data Good interpersonal skills The Ideal Candidate Well are proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer. If you have any specific requirements, we’ll do everything we can to support you. Whether it is to find a pharmacy that is accessible, or if it is a part time position you are looking for, we can help find the role that is right for you. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, we will be happy to accommodate you . Please be aware that due to the high number of applications we receive it may not be possible for us to provide an outcome to all applicants. If you are not contacted within 28 days of your submission unfortunately you will have been unsuccessful.