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- Tasks: Lead the FMCG category, ensuring success through planning, budgeting, and negotiation.
- Company: Join Poundland, a retail powerhouse with a commitment to value and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, car allowance, and generous holiday leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product ranges that customers love while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG buying, strong negotiation skills, and a knack for data analysis.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a supportive culture focused on growth and well-being.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
About the role
We are looking for a Buyer who has managed an FMCG category to join our team, based at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall on a hybrid working model, 3 days a week in the office. This role is a fixed term contract for 12 months. You will take the lead on your assigned category, ensuring its success through effective planning, budgeting, and negotiating. Taking an essential role in our product journey, without you, our customers wouldn't be able to shop the ranges they love.
Core Behaviours
- Love Our Customers: We strive to delight our customers, listening and responding to their needs because they are our priority.
- Care for Our Colleagues: We support each other to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.
- Protect Our Pounds / Euros: We are committed to cost‑efficiency and value, ensuring every penny counts.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Why choose us?
- Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in‑house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
- Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
- Car Allowance: Enjoy the advantage of a car allowance, allowing you to choose your own vehicle while reducing commuting costs.
- Free On‑Site Parking: Enjoy the convenience of free parking, making your daily commute hassle‑free.
- On‑site Coffee Lounge: Take advantage of our onsite coffee lounge, a perfect space to relax and recharge during breaks.
- Exclusive Store Discounts: Receive a 10% discount on most in‑store purchases, enhancing your shopping experience.
- Family‑Friendly Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits are designed to support your and your family’s needs.
- My Staff Shop: Gain exclusive discounts through our My Staff Shop portal, saving on various products and services.
- Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future.
- Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
- Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 33 days per year (incl. banks), with the option to buy additional holidays annually. Celebrate your special day off work every year with an extra day of holiday because we believe birthdays are important.
- Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.
Your Impact and Responsibilities
You will be accountable for maximising the success of your FMCG category performance, along with the Senior Buyer. Seeking out opportunities or threats, resolving issues and making recommendations for action by working closely with the broader category team. Identifying, creating, and developing new range opportunities, taking the lead on constructing a robust and successful plan. Understanding and interpreting key customer insights and data to identify and react to market trends and shopping habits. Visiting suppliers and their factories to develop ranges, negotiate the cost of goods, and explore new opportunities. Be accountable for the development of category strategies, including research and analysis (spend analysis, cost benchmarking, etc).
Skills and Knowledge
For this role we need someone who is an experienced Buyer from a Retail FMCG background, is an expert negotiator, builds great working relationships and knows their way around a spreadsheet. Along with:
- Keeps one step ahead of the market, through calculated risks.
- Experience of delivering strategies and plans with associated targets, KPIs and performance monitoring, along with reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
- Comfortable with being agile to changing priorities.
- Strong understanding of the sector and competitor.
- Thorough understanding of the Supply Chain Process.
About us
Since our humble beginnings in 1990, Poundland has evolved into a retail powerhouse with over 700 stores and 15,000 dedicated colleagues across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The addition of Dealz in 2011 further solidified our presence, enabling us to reach millions of customers with our unparalleled value offerings. At Poundland & Dealz, we don't just offer products at unbeatable prices; we cultivate an environment where every colleague can thrive and contribute to our mission of providing amazing value to millions of customers. Our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and sustainability forms the foundation of our culture, empowering our team members to be the best versions of themselves while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our behaviours and the hard work, commitment and passion of our wonderful colleagues make it all possible. We like to keep things simple, so we have just three behaviours that lie at the heart of everything we do and keep us on track. They are Love our customers, Care for our colleagues, and Protect the Pounds and Euros. By living our behaviours every day, we've created a land that is fun, friendly, and full of surprises a place where our people can truly be the best versions of themselves!
Buyer (FMCG) - 12 month FTC employer: Poundland
Contact Detail:
Poundland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer (FMCG) - 12 month FTC
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the FMCG sector and let them know you're on the lookout for a Buyer role. 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 by researching the company and its products. Familiarise yourself with their FMCG categories and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly understands their business.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or mentor to get comfortable discussing pricing and terms, so you can shine during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Poundland & Dealz. Get your application in early to beat the rush!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer (FMCG) - 12 month FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role. Highlight your FMCG experience and any relevant achievements that show off your negotiation skills and category management expertise.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for the role and how you align with our core behaviours. Show us why you love our customers and how you care for your colleagues.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since this role involves a lot of data interpretation, don’t forget to mention your spreadsheet wizardry! Give examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles.
Apply Early!: We might close the vacancy early if we get a lot of applications, so don’t wait around! Head over to our website and submit your application as soon as you can to avoid missing out on this opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Poundland
✨Know Your FMCG Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the FMCG sector. Understand current trends, key players, and market dynamics. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just a buyer, but a strategic thinker who can contribute to the company's success.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. Be ready to discuss your approach, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes. This will demonstrate your expertise and ability to protect the company's interests while building strong supplier relationships.
✨Emphasise Customer Focus
Since the role is all about delighting customers, think of ways you've previously put customer needs at the forefront of your decisions. Share specific instances where your actions positively impacted customer satisfaction or sales, aligning with the company's core behaviour of loving their customers.
✨Be Data Savvy
Familiarise yourself with key metrics and data analysis techniques relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform your buying decisions and strategies. This will highlight your analytical skills and your ability to make data-driven decisions that align with the company's goals.
