At a Glance
- Tasks: Become a category expert and drive commercial strategies with data-led decisions.
- Company: Join Waitrose, the UK's largest employee-owned business, focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, night premium, hybrid working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail while nurturing supplier relationships and leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in data-driven decision-making and cross-functional teamwork is essential.
We are looking for a commercial, data-led, and collaborative Buyer to join our team here at Waitrose. As a Waitrose Buyer, you won’t just manage products—you will become the authoritative expert for your categories. Supported by a Senior Buyer, you will translate our overall business vision into dynamic, category-level commercial plans.
You will lead a cross-functional "Pod" of up to seven Partners, inspiring end-to-end thinking, promoting efficiency, and driving profitable growth across range, pricing, and promotional strategies.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £5.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Salary - £44,000 - £69,100
Contract type - This position is a Secondment/Fixed Term contract for 12 months.
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. Alongside this we have also signalled a clear intent for Central teams to work ‘more in person than not.’ 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
- Drive Commercial Excellence: Develop optimised range, pricing, and promotional strategies using data-led decisions and real-world insights gathered from regular visits to Waitrose shops, competitor stores, and websites.
- Own Supplier Strategy: Create and nurture strong supplier relationships. You will maintain an ‘always on’ approach to cost of goods management, optimizing product cost compositions while fiercely maintaining our high quality and ethical standards.
- Lead a Cross-Functional Team: Manage and inspire your category Pod, utilizing the diverse expertise of your team members to bring your vision to life.
- Uphold Ethics & Compliance: Ensure operations align at all times with GSCOP, Competition Law, and our industry-leading Environmental & Sustainability policies (including food waste, animal welfare, and packaging reduction).
Essential skills/experience you’ll need
- Expertise in utilising data for strategic choice processes
- Experience of cross-functional matrix working
- Experience of engaging and influencing at different levels within a commercial organisation
- Clear understanding of GSCoP, Competition Law and other legislation relevant to a Buying role
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- Experience as a Junior Buyer or equivalent commercial role
Closing Date: September 13, 2026
Pay: £44,000.00 - £69,100.00 Annual
Contract Type: Temporary
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week
Job Level: Partnership Level 7
Where You'll Be Working: Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.
As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note: It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Waitrose Buyer in Bracknell employer: John Lewis
John Lewis is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where every employee is considered a Partner, sharing in the success and responsibilities of the business. With a focus on innovation and personal growth, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment that encourages creativity and collaboration. Located in the heart of London, the role of Social Community Executive provides a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse community while contributing to a brand that values kindness, respect, and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Waitrose Buyer in Bracknell
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Waitrose Buyer 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 relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to John Lewis:Don’t forget to personalise your application for John Lewis! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that John Lewis offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at John Lewis and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
