At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and execute category strategy, manage product lifecycle, and optimise sales.
- Company: Join bp, a leader in sustainable energy with over 100 years of experience.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, generous parental leave, and excellent retirement benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and exciting environment with opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy sector while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying, strong analytical skills, and commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Our purpose is to deliver energy to the world, today and tomorrow. For over 100 years, bp has focused on discovering, developing, and producing oil and gas in the nations where we operate. We are one of the few companies globally that can provide governments and customers with an integrated energy offering. Delivering our strategy sustainably is fundamental to achieving our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner!
While working as part of a category team, you will own, develop, and execute a robust category strategy across bp's company-owned forecourt business in the UK. You will manage the end-to-end product lifecycle including ranging, pricing, promotions, and supplier negotiations to maximise sales, gross margin, and market share. You will tailor your category to meet customer shopping missions while optimising shelf space.
Please note this is a fixed-term position for 6-12 months.
In this role, you will:
- Own the Commercial P&L: Take full accountability for the category's sales, profit margins, and waste/stock loss targets. You will manage the category budget and continuously optimise performance KPIs.
- Develop a convenience-led range: Create and develop a product range for our customers with the right breadth and depth, ensuring the optimal balance of brands.
- Build Strategic Supplier Partnerships & JBPs: Lead end-to-end commercial negotiations with suppliers. Build Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that secure competitive cost prices, innovation, and marketing support to grow category sales and volume.
- Create compelling promotional & seasonal plans: Work closely with our Trade Planning Team to design, execute, and evaluate high-impact promotional trade plans. Optimise seasonal events (e.g., Bank Holidays, Christmas, and micro-seasons) specifically tailored for transient on-the-go and local top-up customer missions.
- Work Cross-Functionally: Partner closely with Supply Chain and Operations to secure excellent on-shelf availability while minimising stock loss and inventory costs. Work closely with the Space Planning teams to ensure planograms are effective, easy to shop, and operationally executable.
- Make Data-Driven Decisions: Conduct weekly and monthly sales analysis and reporting, turning sales and market data into actionable insights.
What you will need to be successful:
- Retail Buying Experience (FMCG preferred): Proven track record in buying within a fast-paced UK grocery retail, wholesale, or foodservice environment.
- The Convenience Customer Mindset: A deep understanding of convenience shopper missions, micro-space constraints, and the fast-moving mechanics of small-format stores.
- Commercial Acumen: Demonstrable experience in delivering profitable growth through sales and margin analysis, market awareness, and robust supplier partnerships.
- Data Literacy: Confidence in handling large data sets to build compelling category stories and evidence-based proposals.
- Stakeholder Influencing: Strong interpersonal skills to manage complex internal stakeholder groups (Store Operations, Supply Chain, Finance) and external global supplier partners.
- Strong analytical skills: Experience in reviewing data and analysing trends.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Why join us? At bp, we support our people to grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. There are many aspects of our employees' lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, excellent retirement benefits, among others!
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Reinvent your career as you help our business meet the challenges of the future. Apply now!
Travel Requirement: Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role.
Relocation Assistance: This role is not eligible for relocation.
Remote Type: This position is a hybrid of office/remote working.
Skills: Agility core practices, Agility tools, Business Requirements Analysis, Category spend profiling, Category Strategy, Digital Fluency, Negotiating, Negotiation planning and preparation, Product and market intelligence, Supplier Relationship Management.
Category Buyer in High Wycombe employer: Bp Energy
At bp, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that fosters personal and professional growth. Our commitment to sustainability and innovation is matched by our dedication to employee well-being, providing flexible working options, generous parental leave, and robust retirement benefits. Join us in the UK as a Category Buyer, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping our product offerings while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and encourages collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Buyer in High Wycombe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Category Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build your confidence before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at bp and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Buyer in High Wycombe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Category Buyer role. Highlight your retail buying experience and any relevant achievements in FMCG to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of your commercial acumen and data-driven decision-making.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to mention any tools or methods you’ve used to turn data into actionable insights. We love seeing how you can make numbers work for you!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bp Energy
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the category you’ll be managing. Understand current trends, key competitors, and customer preferences. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your commercial acumen and show that you're ready to take ownership of the category's P&L.
✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions
Since this role requires making data-driven decisions, brush up on your analytical skills. Be ready to discuss how you've used data in past roles to influence buying decisions or optimise product ranges. Bring examples of reports or analyses you've conducted to showcase your data literacy.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Negotiating with suppliers is a key part of this role. Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in supplier negotiations, focusing on successful outcomes. Think about how you built partnerships and secured competitive pricing, and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
This position involves working closely with various teams. Be prepared to talk about how you've successfully collaborated with stakeholders from different departments in the past. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them to ensure smooth operations and effective planograms.
