At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead buying strategies for laundry and dishwashers, negotiating with suppliers to meet customer needs.
- Company: Join Currys, the UK's leading tech retailer, committed to amazing service and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values every voice and promotes inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on tech sustainability while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive buying experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Currys we’re united by one passion: to help everyone enjoy amazing technology. As the UK’s best-known retailer of tech, we’re proud of the service our customers receive – and it’s all down to our team of 25,000 caring and committed colleagues. Working as one team, we learn and grow together, celebrating the big and small moments that make every day amazing.
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 as you will be responsible for high turnover, complex categories leading a team of direct reports. You will set the category strategy and select and negotiate product ranges to meet customer needs and company KPIs. You will negotiate annual supplier terms, invest in our business and its activity. You are accountable for ensuring cost pricing allows us to remain competitive for customers while maximising EBIT return and securing differentiation against competitors. You need great relationship‑building skills, working closely with our supplier partners, the go‑to‑market team, Planning and Far East Sourcing team, and use your influencing skills to secure support to drive the business forward. Commercial acumen is a must as you will support our analysis of trading performance, providing recommendations of actions to drive our business.
Our ideal candidate will be organised and self‑motivated in order to prioritise their work whilst having strong attention to detail to ensure everything is right first time.
Key Responsibilities- Managing all category supplier relationships in line with our overall commercial supplier strategy and the category strategy.
- Build credible relationships with our suppliers and develop a sourcing strategy to both bring customers the best ranges, supported with availability but also to minimise our NET cost of goods.
- Working with suppliers to develop a strong understanding of the future technology roadmap, enabling the category to adequately plan ahead for likely changes in customer trends and demand.
- Negotiating product ranges – cost pricing, additional terms, exclusivity, distribution, stock availability.
- Negotiating additional fixed and variable financial terms related to ranging, activity and performance – maximising 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 ensure that we are forecasting at the right level to maximise sales and stock turn.
- Working with the head of merchandising and central finance teams to ensure the claiming and tracking of income against trading account targets, ensuring all due supplier funding is claimed on time in line with contractual obligations.
- Providing regular reviews of team members’ objectives, priorities and performance via Personal Development Review and one‑to‑ones, supporting their professional and personal development, ensuring that the right talent plans are in place to support the talent pipeline for the business.
- 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 judgement and strong decision‑making skills to enable the right actions for the category.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills to review data and provide recommendations/action plans to drive sales, profit and cash.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of presenting to senior stakeholders as well as working cross‑functionally to achieve the 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 1 direct report.
- 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).
Join our team and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you develop the career you want with new opportunities, on‑going training and skills for life. Not only can you shape your own future, but you can help take charge of ours too. As the biggest recycler and repairer of tech in the UK, we’re in a position to make a real impact on people and the planet. Every voice has a space at our table and we’re committed to making inclusion and diversity part of everything we do, including how we strengthen our workforce. We want to make sure you have a fair opportunity to show us your talents during our application process.
Senior Buyer (Laundry/Dishwashers) employer: Currys PLC
At Currys, we pride ourselves on being a leading tech retailer that values its employees and fosters a collaborative work environment. With a commitment to personal and professional growth, our team enjoys competitive benefits, including private medical insurance and a generous holiday allowance, all while working in a vibrant London campus that champions innovation and sustainability. Join us to not only advance your career but also contribute to meaningful initiatives that make a positive impact on society and the environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer (Laundry/Dishwashers)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Know their latest offerings in laundry and dishwashers, and think about how you can contribute to their success. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨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 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 joining our team at Currys.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer (Laundry/Dishwashers)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Buyer role. Highlight your buying experience, negotiation skills, and any relevant achievements that align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your experience fits with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your relationship-building skills and commercial acumen – they’re key for us!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to highlight your numerical and analytical skills in your application. Share examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve performance in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Currys PLC
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate strong numerical and analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics related to buying and sales performance, and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Negotiation is at the heart of this role. Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led, focusing on the outcomes and how they benefited your previous employer. Show that you can secure the best terms while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your understanding of market trends and customer needs. Research the latest developments in laundry and dishwasher technology, and think about how these could impact product selection and pricing strategies.
✨Build Rapport with Interviewers
Since relationship-building is crucial for this role, practice your interpersonal skills. Engage with your interviewers, ask insightful questions, and show genuine interest in their experiences at Currys. This will help you stand out as a candidate who values collaboration.
