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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying strategy for health and beauty, driving category growth and team performance.
- Company: Join a leading health and beauty retailer focused on innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, private medical, pension, and product discounts.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail in a dynamic environment with a customer-first approach.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior buying roles, strategic thinking, and strong supplier management skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working with 3 days in the office and 2 days at home.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY – BUYING DIRECTOR EUROPE (LEADING HEALTH & BEAUTY RETAILER)
Job Title: Buying Director, Europe
Reporting To: Director – Western Europe
Location: Slough or Weybridge
Salary: £100,000–£120,000 (depending on experience)
Package: Car Allowance, Private Medical, Pension, Holiday Allowance, Product Discounts, Onsite Parking
Type: Full Time, Permanent (Hybrid: 3 office / 2 home)
Overview
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially astute Buying Director to lead and evolve our health & beauty buying strategy across Europe. With a remit spanning multiple international markets, this high-profile role offers the opportunity to shape the product vision, drive category growth, and strengthen supplier partnerships at scale.
As a key member of the leadership team, you’ll be responsible for creating a forward-thinking, trend-led product offering across own-label, branded, and exclusive ranges – ensuring we remain competitive and relevant in an ever-changing global retail environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Set and deliver the long-term European buying strategy across health, beauty, wellness, and personal care, in line with business growth objectives.
- Inspire, coach, and lead a high-performing buying team, fostering a culture of innovation, agility, and accountability.
- Develop differentiated category plans using insights, data, and European market trends to drive sales and margin growth.
- Own supplier relationships and sourcing strategies, building international partnerships that unlock exclusivity, innovation, and scale.
- Define promotional and pricing strategies that balance short-term trading success with sustainable long-term value.
- Partner closely with marketing, supply chain, digital, and finance to deliver seamless execution across all European channels.
- Influence at board level, providing commercial leadership and input into transformation and expansion initiatives.
- Be the customer champion, ensuring product ranges are trend-led, relevant, and aligned with evolving consumer needs across European markets.
Required experience and background
- Proven leadership in a senior buying or trading role – ideally within Health, Beauty, FMCG or Retail
- Strategic mindset with the ability to balance vision with delivery, long-term growth with short-term results
- Strong supplier relationship and negotiation expertise, with experience driving large-scale joint business plans
- A track record of leading, developing and inspiring buying teams across multiple categories
- Highly analytical and confident using data to inform decisions and shape strategy
- Strong understanding of customer behaviour, category drivers and the competitive retail landscape
- A collaborative, influential leader, comfortable operating at senior executive level
This is a rare chance to shape the future of health and beauty retail during an exciting period of momentum and innovation. If you’re a strategic, commercially-minded leader ready to make a big impact – we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today or reach out directly: tom.richards@harbourneassociates.com
Buying Director employer: Harbourne Associates
Contact Detail:
Harbourne Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the health and beauty retail sector. Attend industry events, webinars, or conferences to connect with potential colleagues and leaders who can provide insights into the company culture and expectations for the Buying Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the latest trends in health and beauty retail. Familiarise yourself with current market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and innovative product offerings to demonstrate your knowledge during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your strategic vision for the buying function. Think about how you would approach supplier management, category growth, and customer engagement, as these are key aspects of the role that will likely come up in conversations.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership style and experience in managing high-performing teams. Be ready to share examples of how you've fostered a culture of accountability and strategic thinking in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the Buying Director position.
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in senior buying roles, particularly within health, beauty, FMCG, or retail. Use specific examples that demonstrate your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the health and beauty market. Discuss how your experience aligns with the key accountabilities listed in the job description and express your vision for the role.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Emphasise your experience in leading high-performing teams. Provide examples of how you've fostered a culture of strategic thinking and accountability, as well as any successful collaborations with cross-functional teams.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your analytical mindset by including examples of how you've used data to inform strategic decisions. Highlight any specific achievements related to category performance and supplier management.
How to prepare for a job interview at Harbourne Associates
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
As a Buying Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've successfully developed and implemented buying strategies in the past, particularly in health and beauty or similar sectors.
✨Highlight Supplier Management Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience with supplier management and negotiation. Share specific instances where you've built long-term partnerships that resulted in margin growth or innovation, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
This role requires leading a high-performing team. Prepare to talk about your leadership style, how you've fostered a culture of accountability and strategic thinking, and any successes you've had in developing your team.
✨Use Data to Support Your Decisions
An analytical mindset is key for this position. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data and customer insights to shape your buying decisions and category plans, showcasing your ability to balance short-term performance with long-term growth.
