At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead buying strategies and negotiate with suppliers to enhance Sainsbury's product offerings.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, performance bonuses, private healthcare, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal growth and development in a supportive team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer satisfaction and sustainability in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in buying, P&L management, and team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our stores starts in Sainsbury’s Commercial. From product, proposition, packaging and price, to whether it meets our sustainability commitments or simply tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non-food and Clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, online and on demand. It’s an incredibly fast-paced environment. People here are in it together and aren’t afraid to take risks. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.
About The Team
Our Commercial Trading team brings together buying expertise and cross-functional category partners to create a compelling offer for Sainsbury's customers. This is a senior leadership role within the category, working with the Director of Category and leading a team of Buyers to turn customer insight, market dynamics and commercial opportunities into clear plans and measurable results.
More About The Role
As Head of Buying, you will own the performance of a substantial part of the category P&L. You will set the buying and selling plan, shape range, pricing and promotional decisions, and lead complex supplier negotiations. You will balance long-term category strategy with detailed commercial delivery, responding quickly as customer needs, trends and market conditions change. Day to day, you will create and execute the annual customer plan, build productive and mutually beneficial supplier relationships, maintain appropriate contractual governance and allocate resources across your team. You will also increase the profile of the category across Sainsbury's, bring colleagues together around a compelling proposition and support wider category leadership. Your impact will be seen in customer value, availability, profitability, sustainable outcomes and the capability of the team you lead.
More About You
You will bring current experience of delivering significant commercial outcomes in a buying or trading environment, including ownership of P&L performance and complex supplier negotiations. You can move confidently between strategic thinking and practical execution, using analysis, customer understanding and commercial judgement to make timely decisions across competing priorities. You will be an inclusive and visible leader who can coach Buyers, set clear direction and create the conditions for people to perform and develop. You will be comfortable influencing senior and executive stakeholders, working through ambiguity and leading cross-category activity. Experience across different categories, using data or automation to improve outcomes, and managing budgets would be valuable, but the essential requirements are set out below.
Essential Criteria
- Strong P&L ownership and a measurable record of commercial delivery
- Strong end-to-end buying and trading experience
- Leadership of complex, high-value supplier negotiations, ideally with experience of working with large branded suppliers
- Capability to lead and develop a high-performing team
- Ability to translate customer insight into a commercially compelling proposition
- Strategic thinking combined with strong attention to executional detail
- Advanced analytical capability and sound commercial judgement
- Senior-level influencing, communication and cross-functional leadership
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.
When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 65% of salary, depending on how we perform (in cash and shares).
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- You'll also receive a company car cash allowance unless you are going to travel 10,000 business miles in your role, then you'll be able to choose a car.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Head of Buying - Grocery (12m FTC) in London employer: Sainsbury's Limited
Sainsbury's Limited is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values flexibility and employee satisfaction. As a part-time Customer Delivery Driver at our Hendon store, you'll enjoy competitive pay, opportunities for growth within the company, and the chance to make a positive impact in your community by delivering essential groceries to customers. Join us for a rewarding experience where your contributions are recognised and appreciated.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying - Grocery (12m FTC) in London
✨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 Head of Buying - Grocery (12m FTC) in London
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 Sainsbury's Limited:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Sainsbury's Limited! 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 Sainsbury's Limited
✨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 Sainsbury's Limited 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 Sainsbury's Limited and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
