At a Glance
- Tasks: Support buying processes across Home, Fashion, and Beauty categories while managing relationships with suppliers.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, known for its iconic brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, night premium pay, hybrid working, and a focus on work-life balance.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration in retail.
- Qualifications: Strong knowledge of product development and excellent communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 31000 - 31000 £ per year.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Are you passionate about a career in Buying? Do you want to work for an iconic brand across a range of categories? Are you great at building relationships with suppliers and internal teams? If so, this may be just the job for you. We are recruiting a number of permanent Buying Assistants across various categories including:
- Home
- Fashion
- Beauty
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.
Salary up to: £31,000 per annum depending on skill and experience
Contract type: Permanent positions
Location: This is a hybrid working role. The normal place of work for this role is our London Central Office in Pimlico. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as team collaboration is critical in this role - core days will vary across teams.
Key responsibilities:
- Managing milestones and adhering to standard processes
- Supporting, buying and executing the administrative tasks required across critical path management, pricing, range building, marketing, and trading activities for your assigned category
- Taking responsibility for the complete competitor and assortment analysis - working with supplier and internal teams to collate and deliver - events, marketing activities, samples (range building and assortment reviews)
- You will take pride in executing work in a right first time and accurate manner. You will be able to flex to the ebb and flow of seasonal demands, including supporting additional categories as the need arises
- Externally you will maintain operational relationships with our Suppliers
- You will propose actions to your category group and execute their decisions within their critical path, assortment, marketing and range plans templates. You will manage exceptions to these processes with the relevant stakeholders
Essential skills/experience you’ll need:
- Strong working knowledge of product development processes in respective category areas; Home, Fashion & Beauty
- Communicating, influencing and negotiating with a wide range of stakeholders
- Excellent time management/prioritisation skills and approach to tasks in a project/milestone outlook - planning and reviewing work regularly and adapting to change
- Experience of working with range plans, critical path and assortment review and marketing nomination processes
- Demonstrates an innate passion for and understanding of Retail
Desirable skills/experience you may have:
- Experience in a Buying office or a Buying qualification would be an advantage
- Experience of using JL systems/tools - Range plan, Product Hub, Step, Google Suite
Closing Date: September 23, 2026
Pay: £28,000.00 - £38,900.00 Annual
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: 35 hours Monday to Friday
Job Level: Partnership Level 9
Where You'll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
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.
Buying Assistant, Various Categories 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 Buying Assistant, Various Categories
✨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!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like John Lewis, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
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 John Lewis!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Assistant, Various Categories
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 John Lewis, 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 John Lewis 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 John Lewis that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis
✨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!
