At a Glance
- Tasks: Select and negotiate exceptional wines while driving category performance and supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Waitrose and Partners, a leading supermarket with a commitment to quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £80,000, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Mentorship opportunities and a dynamic team environment await you.
- Why this job: Be a strategic leader in the wine industry and make a real impact on our product offerings.
- Qualifications: Experience in wine buying and strong commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Wine Buyer to join the team here at Waitrose and Partners, on a fixed term contract for 12 months. In this role, you will focus on cultivating strong supplier partnerships, understanding customer needs, and actively seeking exceptional products to delight our audience.
Key responsibilities include:
- Analysing category performance, monitoring market trends, and identifying growth opportunities.
- Owning the creation of the annual category plan and leading its execution across all channels alongside cross-functional partners.
- Working closely with marketing and sales specialists to effectively define and activate our strategy.
- Being accountable for translating overall business visions into high-impact, category-level commercial plans.
- Leading a cross-functional Pod of multiple Partners to develop and deliver optimised range, pricing, and promotional strategies for your categories to drive profitable growth.
- Encouraging end-to-end thinking to inspire ownership, promote efficiency, and deliver results in a sustainable way.
- Building a clear supplier strategy for your area and nurturing strong supplier relationships critical to our success.
- Pursuing cost-saving opportunities whilst maintaining quality and ethical standards.
- Managing the cost composition of the products you buy and ensuring optimisation at all times.
- Mentoring and supporting less experienced members of the team to build wider-ranging capability.
- Leading or contributing to wider projects while championing new systems, processes, and ways of working.
Please note there will be a 2 stage interview process. The first stage will explore your skills and experience in relation to the role and will be virtual. If successful, you will be invited to a second stage interview which will be held in person at our Bracknell Head office and will involve a tasting exercise as part of the process.
Expected salary: Salary up to £80,000 depending on experience.
Contract type: This is a 12 month Secondment/ Fixed Term Contract.
Working pattern/flexible working: The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. For the Waitrose Trading Team, this means 3 days a week of in-person time but it is not a hard and fast rule requiring everyone to be in the office 3 days a week. Supplier visits, time in our shops and time in the office all contribute to this requirement. Travel including overseas travel may be required.
Location: Bracknell
Key responsibilities:
- Responsible for selecting a portfolio of wines within allocated regions and countries.
- Accountable for the negotiation of all supplier terms and contracts, including price and marketing support.
- Commercial Delivery including Buying responsibility for large or complex Category Pod and delivering category commercial targets and direct KPIs such as Sales, Profit and Market Share.
- Through Horizontal Working help ensure Category Pod delivers its Indirect Shared KPIs; consistently demonstrating and developing an in-depth knowledge of relevant demand categories, target customers and the market dynamics and translating this knowledge into business opportunities.
- Management of the Category Pod suppliers, including selection of appropriate supply base, being responsible for annual terms preparation and negotiation, agreeing and tracking performance against Supplier Joint Business Plans, and unlocking efficiencies with suppliers and supply chains.
Senior Buyer, Wines in Bracknell employer: jlp
At Waitrose & Partners, we pride ourselves on being the largest employee-owned business in the UK, fostering a culture where every Partner is valued and empowered to make a difference. Our commitment to innovation and excellence in retail is matched by our dedication to employee growth, offering flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment that encourages personal and professional development. Join us in Wantage, where your passion for food and customer service will be celebrated, and together, we can create a happier world for our customers and ourselves.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer, Wines in Bracknell
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
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Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like jlp!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer, Wines in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at jlp, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at jlp and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show jlp that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at jlp
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
