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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and purchase top-notch cookshop products while hitting sales and profit targets.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, known for innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic buying team and work with global brands.
- Qualifications: Proven buying experience and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements available to support your lifestyle.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 84000 £ per year.
We have a great opportunity to join our Buying team as the Buyer of Cookshop. You will be a highly motivated, experienced individual who uses your expert knowledge to plan and purchase the best ranges for our customers within the category. Your remit includes delivering agreed KPIs such as sales, profit, stock, margin, and achieving required customer metrics and hit rates. You will source an assortment of high‐strategic importance and complexity that optimises market trends and creates a competitive advantage. As an experienced negotiator you will independently manage brand supplier relationships and work closely with your Merchandiser to analyse commercial input and market data across all channels to develop an appealing category assortment for the John Lewis & Partners customer base.
Key Details
- Salary: £54,500.00 – £84,100.00 per annum (up to £65,000 depending on experience)
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Hybrid; minimum 3 days per week in the Pimlico Head Office and a minimum of 12 visits per year to John Lewis branches
- Location: Pimlico, Head Office, London, England
- Interview dates: week commencing 17th November
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Merchandiser, Category Lead, Buying Manager, Head of Buying, Trade Planning, Trading & Product Operations, Online and Marketing teams to drive pace and agility.
- Accountable for the commercial success of the product range, from range planning to agile in‐season trading.
- Maintain up‐to‐date market knowledge and anticipate future dynamics.
- Build and sustain strong supplier relationships, ensuring adherence to standards and agreed terms.
- Make decisions on product assortment, development, sourcing, brand positioning, price structure and margins in line with category and customer strategy.
- Deputise for the Buying Manager when appropriate.
- Manage and develop a team of three Buying Assistants within Cookshop.
Essential Skills / Experience
- Proven experience in buying.
- Experience dealing with large, global brands.
- Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Highly numerate with strong analytical capabilities.
- Commercial experience of trading in a fast‐paced, reactive environment.
- Cohesive collaborative approach across teams.
Desirable Skills / Experience
- Previous experience in cook and bakeware.
Important Points to Note
- Some roles are subject to pre‐employment vetting, which may include DBS checks. Required vetting data will be provided during the recruitment process.
- If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability, please contact us early.
- We support flexible working arrangements, including flexible or compressed hours, job sharing, or shorter hour contracts where possible. Flexible work arrangements should be discussed with the hiring manager.
About The Partnership
We're the largest employee‐owned business in the UK, home of John Lewis and Waitrose. We're driven by our purpose to build a happier world and focus relentlessly on retail excellence, innovation, adaptation and diversification.
Buyer – Cookshop in London employer: John Lewis & Partners
Contact Detail:
John Lewis & Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer – Cookshop in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their products, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise common interview questions and think about how you can showcase your negotiation skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at John Lewis & Partners.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer – Cookshop in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer – Cookshop role. Highlight your buying experience, especially with cook and bakeware, and showcase your negotiation skills. 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 this role and how your experience aligns with our goals. We love seeing enthusiasm and a personal touch, so let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have with market data and KPIs. We’re looking for someone who can make informed decisions based on numbers, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis & Partners
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the current trends in the cookshop category. Familiarise yourself with popular products, emerging brands, and customer preferences. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you're proactive and passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of successful negotiations you've conducted in the past. Highlight how you managed supplier relationships and achieved favourable terms. This will demonstrate your expertise and ability to handle the responsibilities of the Buyer position effectively.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in previous roles. Share examples of how you’ve built strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, and how this has contributed to achieving commercial success.
✨Be Data-Driven
Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you use data to inform your buying decisions. Bring examples of how you've used market data to optimise product assortments or improve sales performance. This will show that you can make informed decisions that align with the company's goals.
