At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead supplier relationships and negotiate product ranges for laundry and dishwashers.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading appliances retailer.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Extensive buying experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Positioned within the Appliances commercial team, you will be right in the centre of a fast-paced team, working hand in hand with the go-to market team, building strong relationships with our supplier partners. As a Senior category buyer for Laundry, you need to have extensive buying and management experience, leading a team of direct reports for high-turnover, complex categories.
Responsibilities
- Managing all category supplier relationships in line with our overall commercial supplier strategy and the category strategy.
- Build credible relationships with suppliers and develop a sourcing strategy to bring customers the best ranges, supported with availability and minimised NET cost of goods.
- Working with suppliers to understand the future technology roadmap, enabling the category to plan ahead for customer trend and demand changes.
- Negotiating product ranges – cost pricing, additional terms, exclusivity, distribution, stock availability.
- Negotiating additional fixed and variable financial terms related to ranging, activity and performance to maximise EBIT across the category.
- Negotiating promotional funding support to drive sales while maintaining margin in line with financial objectives.
- Securing adequate product and promotional differentiation from competitors to support market share growth objectives.
- Pricing the product range in line with agreed category CPI targets.
- Working with merchandising to forecast at the right level, maximising sales and stock turn.
- Collaborating with the head of merchandising and central finance teams to ensure income is claimed and tracked against trading account targets, and that supplier funding is claimed on time.
- Providing regular reviews of team members’ objectives, priorities, and performance via Personal Development Review and one-to-ones, supporting their professional and personal development and ensuring the right talent plans are in place.
Requirements
- Substantial buying experience working within a FMCG/Fashion or Hard Goods fast‑paced retailer.
- Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage all supplier partnerships at differing levels of seniority.
- Good judgment and strong decision‑making skills to enable the right actions for the category.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills to review data and provide recommendations/actions plans to drive sales, profit, and cash.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of presenting to senior stakeholders and working cross‑functionally to achieve desired results.
- Customer champion with excellent commercial awareness and understanding of customer needs.
- Good working knowledge of SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; experience working with Claude is an advantage.
- Management/leadership experience of more than one direct report.
Benefits
- Holiday benefits – 25 days of annual leave (plus bank holiday entitlement).
- Private medical insurance.
- Life assurance.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Access to discretionary bonus.
- Hybrid working; our primary Currys Campus is at Waterloo (WeWork).
Senior Buyer (laundry / Dishwashers) in City of Westminster employer: Currys PLC
As a Senior Buyer at our vibrant Appliances commercial team, you will thrive in a dynamic environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. We offer a competitive benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave, private medical insurance, and a hybrid working model from our modern Currys Campus at Waterloo, ensuring a healthy work-life balance. With a strong focus on employee development and growth opportunities, we are committed to nurturing your career while you build meaningful relationships with suppliers and drive category success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer (laundry / Dishwashers) in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or suppliers. Building those relationships can really set you apart.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by knowing your stuff! Research the company, understand their products, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to show them you’re the perfect fit for that Senior Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Buyer, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence and refine your approach 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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Senior Buyer position!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer (laundry / Dishwashers) in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Buyer role. Highlight your extensive buying experience and any relevant achievements in managing supplier relationships. We want to see how you’ve made an impact in previous roles!
Show Off Your Negotiation Skills:Since negotiation is key for this position, don’t shy away from showcasing your skills. Include specific examples of successful negotiations you've led, especially those that maximised EBIT or secured promotional funding.
Be Data-Driven:We love numbers! Use your analytical skills to demonstrate how you've used data to drive sales and profit in past roles. Mention any tools or software you’ve used to analyse market trends or forecast sales.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you into our system quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Currys PLC
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your strong numerical and analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics related to buying and sales, and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Negotiation is crucial for this role, so prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led. Think about how you secured better terms or improved supplier relationships, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
With management experience being a requirement, be prepared to discuss your leadership style. Share specific instances where you've developed team members or managed performance effectively, highlighting your ability to lead a high-performing team.
✨Understand the Market Trends
Stay updated on the latest trends in laundry and dishwashing appliances. Be ready to discuss how these trends impact customer needs and how you would adapt sourcing strategies accordingly. This shows your commercial awareness and customer-centric approach.
