At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive product strategy and optimise buying for Household Cleaning and Air Fresheners.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a leading retailer with a mission to help everyone eat better.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a range of health and financial perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong analytical skills, and a passion for products.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and learning.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ 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 Sainsbury’s stores starts out in Sainsbury’s Commercial. Whether it’s the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non-food and Clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, digitally and on demand. You’ll discover it’s incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They’re enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. 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.
Joining Sainsbury's Buying Teams means being part of a dedicated and friendly group working towards a mission that truly matters: Helping Everyone Eat Better. As a Buyer, you will have the opportunity to own, deliver, and optimise the buying and selling strategy within a specific category, contributing to the sustainable growth of market share and cash profit. Collaborating across functions, you will leverage your commercial acumen and analytical skills to drive product improvement, develop new offerings, and identify cost savings. With a focus on customer-centricity, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the product range, influencing stakeholders, and making key decisions to enhance our customers' experience. Join us and be part of a team committed to delivering quality and value, while enjoying a flexible work-life balance and a culture that fosters continuous learning and growth.
As a Buyer in our Sainsbury's Buying Teams, you will play a vital role in ensuring that we get the best products at the best prices to deliver quality and value to our customers. You will own, deliver, and optimise the buying and selling strategy for a specific buying area within the Food for Later category, with the responsibility of driving sustainable market share growth and cash profit through a competitive and distinctive customer offer. In this role, you will work cross-functionally to review product ranges, identifying opportunities for product improvement, new product development, and cost savings. You will make key decisions in both the Buying Strategy and Selling Strategy, influencing stakeholders and using financial, market, and customer data to drive a market-leading product range. Additionally, you will optimise the supply base, manage supplier relationships, and lead cross-functional projects to deliver successful outcomes. With your strong commercial acumen, analytical skills, and effective communication, you will contribute to the overall success of the team and help us achieve our mission of Helping Everyone Eat Better.
This is an exciting role in our Household, Baby and Pet team buying Household Cleaning and Air Fresheners. A highly trend led and growing area with annual sales in excess of £200M. This role gives a large buying area with the opportunity to work with some of the biggest branded suppliers in the world such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Reckitt.
As a Buyer for Sainsbury's Buying Teams, you are a highly experienced professional with a proven track record in negotiating with suppliers and optimising product ranges to deliver quality and value to customers. With your strong commercial acumen, you develop and execute customer-focused category plans aligned with the company's strategy, aiming to sustainably grow market share and cash profit. Your ability to analyse financial, market, and customer data allows you to identify opportunities for product improvement, new product development, and cost savings. Collaborating cross-functionally, you review product ranges, make key decisions in buying and selling strategies, and effectively manage supplier relationships to achieve performance objectives. With excellent communication skills, adaptability, and resilience, you navigate complex information, influence stakeholders, and lead relevant projects to successful delivery.
Essential Criteria:
- Previous buying experience in a Grocer/Supermarket OR in a specialist non-food retailer such as Home Bargains, B&M, Wilko, Poundland, Boots or Superdrug
- Experience buying Branded products
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 get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
- 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 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You’ll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay 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.
- And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.
- 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.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
Buyer - Household (12 month FTC) employer: Sainsbury's
Contact Detail:
Sainsbury's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Household (12 month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working at Sainsbury's. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Sainsbury's buying strategies and recent product launches. Show us you’re passionate about helping everyone eat better and how you can contribute to that mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do mock interviews with you. Focus on articulating your experience in negotiating and optimising product ranges, as these are key skills we’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Household (12 month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role. Highlight your previous buying experience, especially in grocery or non-food retail, and showcase your commercial acumen and analytical skills. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of Helping Everyone Eat Better!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your skills align with our goals. Don’t forget to mention any experience with branded products and your ability to negotiate with suppliers.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Whether it's cost savings, product improvements, or successful supplier negotiations, we love to see quantifiable results!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our amazing benefits!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Know Your Products Inside Out
As a Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your passion for the products you'll be managing. Research the latest trends in household cleaning and air fresheners, and be ready to discuss how you would optimise product ranges. Show that you understand what makes a product appealing to customers.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Since negotiating with suppliers is a key part of the role, prepare examples of past negotiations you've successfully handled. Highlight your strategies for achieving the best prices while maintaining quality. This will show your potential employer that you have the commercial acumen they’re looking for.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with how to analyse financial, market, and customer data. Be prepared to discuss how you would use this data to identify opportunities for product improvement and cost savings. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and your ability to make informed decisions.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are essential for influencing stakeholders and collaborating across functions. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask during the interview to show your engagement and interest in the role.