Category Buyer in Milton Keynes

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.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.