Junior Buyer: Fragrance in London

Overview

Ready to make a sweet‑smelling step up in your career and follow your nose for the next big beauty trend?

We’re looking for an ambitious, trend‑savvy Junior Buyer with a proven track record across fragrance and/or beauty to help us shape a market‑leading scent destination.

In this role, you will use your specialised category knowledge and commercial mindset to onboard premium branded ranges.

You will own the delivery of critical category KPIs across sales, profit, stock, and margin.

Partnering closely with your Merchandiser, you will analyse market data, navigate complex pricing architectures, and use your negotiation skills to manage vital brand relationships.

You will also lead by task‑managing and guiding our Buying Assistants to ensure the whole category thrives.

Key Responsibilities

• Work at pace and agility within a collaborative environment with your Buyer, Trade Planning and Trading & Product Operations team.
• Maintain strong relationships with Brands and be accountable for all decisions on product assortment: brand positioning, price structure and margins, aligning with category and customer strategy.
• Make season trading and volume decisions, commercial terms and product lifecycle with the Brands, ensuring up‑to‑date expert market knowledge and predictive insight into future dynamics.
• Build and maintain strong Brand relationships, ensuring adherence to required standards and agreed terms.
• Task‑manage, coach and provide feedback to Buying Assistants.
• Lead commercial negotiations, supporting the Buyer and Category Lead in building product strategy.
• Build market‑leading branded ranges, managing product lifecycle from launch to exit.
• Collaborate with Merchandiser to prepare and share Standardised Range Plan in line with the critical path to hand over to Central Operations.
• Ensure buying office‑negotiated rebates targets are achieved and comply with all critical path requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Beauty and/or Fragrance Buying experience is essential.
• Brand experience critical.
• Commercial mindset with a solid understanding of profit and margin.
• Experience in retail buying, category management or product management within the designated category.
• Direct experience in buying practices, merchandising strategies and supplier negotiations.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience in leading strategic commercial negotiations with suppliers and vendors.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: £34,000 – £51,100 per annum (Expected salary up to £42,000 per annum dependant on skill and experience).
• Night Premium £4.75 per hour for any time worked between 22:00 – 06:00.
• Permanent position, 35 hours per week (Monday to Friday). Minimum of 3 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) – hybrid working.
• Location: London, Pimlico Head Office (1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ).
• Additional Information
• The role is subject to pre‑employment vetting, including DBS checks for successful candidates. Required vetting will be discussed during the recruitment process.
• Flexible working arrangements (compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts) are offered where possible.
• Closing date: July26,2026.
• This position is located within the John Lewis Partnership.
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