Head of Buying

Quest Search & Selection are currently looking for a Head of Buying, leading a team of Category Managers for this Food/FMCG retailer. The business is a leading retail eCommerce platform, specialised in consumer goods and food delivery, offering an extensive range of products including household essentials, medication, pet care, office supplies, beauty, groceries, and even fresh prepared food. This global business is going through growth and is keen to look for an individual who has established leadership and category management experience with an analytical mindset.

Key responsibilities of this Head of Buying - Food/FMCG:

• Formulate, structure, implement process and lead a team for the ongoing strategy of the buying team.
• Lead projects regarding new transformation systems and automated processes to increase overall productivity.
• Monitor competitive price indices and implement pricing policies accordingly.
• Manage relationships with strategic key accounts, ensuring adherence to cost prices, promotional activities, and service standards.
• Negotiate deals when required, with key accounts and regional exclusives.
• Provide customer insights into algorithmic buying decisions and testing to optimise availability.
• Deal with internal stakeholders on in-app merchandising to consistently showcase the product range and alignment with the value proposition.
• Identify deviations from expectations and propose hypotheses for further validation.

Key requirements of this Head of Buying - Food/FMCG:

• Ideally having 7+ years within a Category/Buying background.
• A background in Supermarkets, Convenience, FMCG, or eCommerce food.
• Experience in leading teams while being hands-on in driving strategy and involved in reactive and strategic decision making.
• Experience in leading transformation projects within a similar environment is highly desirable.
• Open to those who have worked in an early-stage start-up/scale-up coupled with a blue-chip eCommerce or retail supermarket, household or FMCG background.
• A data-savvy, analytical individual that provides the foundations of decision making.
• Consider yourself a builder rather than just an executor.
• Managed P&L responsibility of £40–80 million turnover.
• High level Excel and Microsoft Office experience.

Benefits included for Director of Buying & Supply Chain:

• Salary £85,000 - £110,000.
• Central London head office.
• Expected to be based in head office circa 3-4 days a week.
• 15% discretionary bonus.
• Lucrative share options.
• Part of a wide global business that is going from strength to strength.

This is a great opportunity if you have the right skill sets to lead an entrepreneurial team and business. If this role is of interest, please do apply with your CV today!