Junior Buyer

An opportunity has arisen for a Junior Buyer to join this growing team based just outside Manchester City Centre. As the Junior Buyer, you will have direct responsibility for your given categories and will be responsible for the KPI’s of these departments whilst supporting on all other categories where necessary. Assisting the Senior Buyer, you will support with product strategy and team management, building relationships within the immediate and wider teams. Product sourcing decisions will be driven by data, and you will engage the relevant team members cross-functionally to develop superior quality, market-leading product ranges. A key focus will be given to speed to market, striving to be first to market on the latest product.

You will ensure the target customer is at the forefront of any product development and ranging will be aligned with agreed business strategy, whilst all actions and decisions are driven and supported by data.

• Strategic product ranging to optimise category performance, with a strong understanding of company best and worst sellers, taking actions to maximise potential and minimise risk.
• Manage KPI’s for accountable categories, ensuring they meet and strive to exceed category financial goals.
• Monitor and maintain buying margin & gross profit on all accountable products to support overall business financial goals.
• Source and manage the product ranges from initial concept until launch, working closely with key stakeholders to optimise product opportunities and efficiently bring to market.
• Lead the planning and completion of key Critical Path milestone meetings (e.g. Product Workshop, Range Review, Selection, Sign Off) for the given categories, presenting to the wider Product Team, Heads of Departments, and Managing Director.
• Engage and negotiate with suppliers to ensure the best range and prices in the market.
• Demonstrate a strategic view of the supply base, feeding back to the senior management team any opportunities or risks within the supply base from a pricing, production capabilities, and performance perspective.
• Work closely with the offline sales team, reacting immediately to ad hoc customer requests and adapting the sourcing processes when required.
• Support with sourcing strategy considering supplier performance and COO analysis in line with agreed business strategy, ensuring supplier set up process is adhered to.
• Negotiate favourable payment terms with suppliers.
• Attend trade shows with a strategic mindset, reporting back and acting on business opportunities.
• Understand British standards and legislation, working closely with the technical team to ensure all products ranged meet relevant standards and are in line with business policies, highlighting any potential risks.
• Report in weekly meetings on product and channel sales as well as key customers, utilising internal reporting systems (Brightpearl & Power BI).
• Help to manage and coach Assistant Buyers, taking on additional responsibility as requested from Senior Buyer & Head of Product.

• Be either an established Assistant Buyer ready to step up to a Junior Buyer or already operating at this level.
• Be experienced in range building and data analysis, and in working with suppliers from different COO’s.
• Thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, pro-actively seeking to understand the wider business environment.
• Have a passion for product & trade and a real desire to make a difference to the business.
• Preferably have worked with technical product.
• Be confident and enthusiastic, with the ability to bring energy and pace to the buying and merchandising team.
• Preferably have experience managing an Assistant Buyer or Buyers Admin Assistant.

A rapidly growing retail/wholesaler specialising in technical product. The business is based just outside the city centre and the role will be office-based, so you must live within a commutable distance to accommodate this.

£30,000 - £35,000k flexible depending on experience.