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- Tasks: Lead a diverse team to develop innovative womenswear strategies and drive business growth.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a leader in non-food retail, known for its dynamic and customer-focused environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, work-life balance, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Be a pioneer in a multi-brand setting, influencing market-leading initiatives and fostering collaboration.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in retail, expertise in womenswear, and strong supplier relationship management skills required.
- Other info: This is a permanent role based at the Coventry Store Support Centre.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Head of Buying – Womenswear, Brands & Concessions
Salary: Competitive Plus BenefitsLocation: Coventry Store Support Centre – Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RDContract type: PermanentBusiness area: Non FoodClosing date: 05 February 2025Requisition ID: 287695
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. From fragrance to car care, clothing and pots and pans, our General Merchandise team delivers all the non-food items for Sainsbury’s, Habitat and Argos customers. This multi-brand environment means you get to work across most areas. You can also be a pioneer, because the team believes in being brave, iterating and learning as they go. They also develop deep connections to other departments, which opens up a lot of different career opportunities for you. What’s certain is that you’ll spend time on the shop floor to get closer to customers, and bring a broad perspective and the full support of your manager with you wherever you decide to develop next.
The Head of Buying- Womenswear, Brands & Concessions offers a unique opportunity to lead a significantly large and diverse commercial team in developing and delivering innovative category strategies that drive business growth and profitability. With a focus on creating compelling product ranges, fostering strategic supplier relationships, and influencing market-leading initiatives, this role provides a platform for impactful leadership, collaborative decision-making, and continuous professional development within a dynamic and customer-focused retail environment.
What you’ll do
As the Head of Buying- Womenswear, Brands & Concessions within the Commercial division, your primary responsibility will be to lead a team of buyers and collaborate with the Head of Merchandising, Design, and Global teams to develop and implement a long-term category strategy aimed at driving business growth and profitability. You will be accountable for creating and executing commercial and profitable range plans aligned with strategic direction and budgets, ensuring a customer-centric approach. Additionally, you will build effective strategic relationships with senior stakeholders within Global brands and Own Brand manufacturers to optimise product cost, manage supplier performance, and drive supplier income to enhance profitability. Your role will involve leading negotiations, overseeing product launches, formulating pricing and promotional strategies, managing financial budgets, optimising stock and supply, monitoring market trends, and ensuring legal compliance and ethical training within the team.
Who you are
As the Head of Buying, you are a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving commercial success and delivering strategic growth initiatives. With your in-depth understanding of the retail market, customer behaviour, and category technical expertise, you possess the skills to lead a high-performing team of buyers to achieve financial targets, develop innovative product ranges, and strengthen supplier relationships. Your ability to engage internal and external stakeholders, make complex negotiations, and analyse data to inform commercial decisions sets you apart as a visionary leader who drives change, fosters collaboration, and inspires excellence across functions to deliver a compelling customer offer.
Womenswear Expertise : Possesses extensive experience in womenswear and leading the strategic vision for the category. Demonstrated expertise in developing own brand product ranges.
Third-Party Brand Experience : Proven experience in collaborating with third-party brands and suppliers, defining a clear category vision, and adapting strategies to meet evolving business requirements.
Branded Supplier Relationship Management : Demonstrates a strong ability to establish and maintain expert supplier relationships, developing long-term strategic partnerships, and identifying market opportunities to expand the product offering for our customers.
Leadership Capability : Exhibits proven leadership capability with a history of fostering a high-performing team culture across multi-disciplinary teams. Shows an ability to inspire, motivate, and develop team members to reach their fullest potential.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop category strategies and the capability to transform these strategies into actionable plans.
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Head of Buying - Womenswear, Brands & Concessions employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying - Womenswear, Brands & Concessions
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in womenswear and understand what makes a successful product range. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about category strategies during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and buying sectors, especially those with experience in womenswear. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your past experiences in leading teams and driving commercial success. Highlight specific examples where your strategic thinking led to measurable results in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Sainsbury’s approach to customer engagement and product offerings. Understanding their brand values and market positioning will allow you to align your vision with theirs during discussions.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying - Womenswear, Brands & Concessions
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Head of Buying - Womenswear, Brands & Concessions. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your experience in womenswear and your ability to lead teams. Provide specific examples of how you've driven commercial success and developed innovative product ranges.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your leadership capabilities by sharing instances where you have inspired and motivated a team. Highlight your experience in managing supplier relationships and negotiating effectively.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your application materials to reflect the values and culture of Sainsbury’s. Use language that resonates with their focus on collaboration, customer-centricity, and strategic thinking.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨Showcase Your Womenswear Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your extensive experience in womenswear. Highlight specific examples of how you've developed successful product ranges and your strategic vision for the category.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Share instances where you've led a high-performing team. Discuss how you inspire and motivate team members, and provide examples of how you've fostered a collaborative culture.
✨Highlight Supplier Relationship Management
Prepare to talk about your experience with third-party brands and suppliers. Emphasize your ability to establish and maintain expert relationships that drive business growth and profitability.
✨Exhibit Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you develop category strategies and turn them into actionable plans. Provide examples of how your strategic decisions have positively impacted previous roles.
