Junior Buyer

Reliant, established in 1960, is one of the UK’s leading retailers in home electrical equipment. We are a fast-growing UK family business, with experience selling A-brand consumer electronics for over 6 decades. In the past few years we have started to source directly from manufacturers in China, Turkey and Vietnam; this year we are forecast to purchase over a quarter of a million units from overseas. This is a lean, fast moving operation where the decisions we make as a buying team have a direct and visible impact on the business.

This is a Junior Buyer role reporting directly to the buying director. You will work closely with the buying director on all aspects of sourcing, procurement and supplier management. The role is hands on and you will be involved in real decisions, real supplier relationships and real commercial outcomes. You will travel internationally as a core part of the job, not as an occasional perk. This is a full-time, on-site position based in Blackpool.

Responsibilities

• Managing day-to-day communication with suppliers in China, Turkey and Vietnam
• Placing and tracking purchase orders from initial placement through to delivery
• Supporting quality control processes, raising issues with suppliers where required
• Maintaining accurate records of orders, shipments, and supplier correspondence
• Attending factory visits in China twice per year (approximately two weeks per trip)
• Attending supplier visits in Turkey and Vietnam on an occasional basis
• Assisting with product research, pricing analysis, and supplier evaluation
• Supporting the buying director with ad hoc commercial and operational tasks as the business grows
• Monitoring pricing in the market of competitors

What we are looking for

• Sharp & fast learning, you pick things up quickly and figure things out rather than waiting to be told
• Highly organised, you can manage multiple moving parts without things falling through the cracks
• Comfortable with ambiguity, you can operate in a fast-moving environment where things change
• Genuinely excited about international travel - trips to China are a core part of the job, not optional
• Motivated by results and progression - you want responsibility and a clear growth path

Requirements

• A degree is not required. Prior buying or procurement experience is not required. We are hiring based on intelligence, attitude and potential - not on qualifications or CV length.
• We are looking for a long term member of staff who will grow with Reliant and HYE brand.
• Full UK right to work
• Valid passport and ability to travel internationally to the Far East in April and October
• Strong written and spoken English (Knowing Mandarin is a bonus)

Salary & Benefits

• Performance - related bonus
• International travel fully covered (flights, accommodation, expenses)
• Clear progression path as the business grows - this is a role that grows as much as you want it to

How to apply

Please send your CV along with written answers to the two questions below. Applications without answers to both questions will not be considered.

Question 1
What was the last book you read (no performative answers)

Question 2
If you had to verify whether a manufacture in China was legitimate before placing a large order with them, where would you start?