At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Laundry & Dish categories, driving sourcing and selection strategies for optimal performance.
- Company: Join Sainsbury’s, a dynamic retailer focused on quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a range of health and financial perks.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying and strong negotiation skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our Food Commercial team sits at the heart of delivering great quality products for our customers, at the right price. Based across Holborn and flexible home working, the team works closely with Supply Chain, Own Brand, and Retail colleagues to shape category strategy and drive commercial performance. You’ll be part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where market insight, innovation, and strong supplier partnerships are key to maintaining a competitive edge.
As a Senior Buyer, you will take ownership of the Laundry & Dish categories worth £400m in annual sales, executing sourcing and selection strategies aligned to wider business objectives. As the Senior Buyer within the Household department, you’ll lead the team on strategic planning, supplier negotiations to secure optimal cost prices, identify the most effective sourcing routes, and implement pricing, promotional, and ranging strategies that drive performance across sales, profit, and market share. You’ll also be one of two buyers across the total business to pilot key elements of Core Commercial Transformation (CCT) and involved in shaping the rollout of that across the business.
Day-to-day, you’ll collaborate with Category Directors, Head of Buying and Category Planning, and cross-functional teams to shape the product range, support new product development (NPD), and ensure a strong balance of quality and cost. You’ll also monitor supplier performance, benchmark against competitors, and identify future commercial opportunities to keep your category ahead in a dynamic retail market.
You bring a strong understanding of buying and category management within a retail or commercial environment, with the ability to analyse market trends and translate insights into action. You are confident negotiating with suppliers and can demonstrate accountability for delivering commercial outcomes across sales, profit, and cost optimisation. You are a collaborative team player who builds effective relationships across functions, communicates clearly, and uses data to inform decisions. Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, you are proactive in identifying opportunities, driving improvements, and supporting innovation within your category.
Essential criteria- Proven experience managing product ranges or categories within a commercial or retail buying environment
- Demonstrable experience negotiating with suppliers to achieve cost savings or improved commercial terms. Experience with large branded suppliers in particular.
- Experience delivering pricing, promotional, or ranging strategies that have impacted sales, profit, or market share
- Demonstrable ability to analyse product, market, and financial data to inform commercial decisions
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally with supply chain, product development, or retail teams
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.
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 in London employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and fast-paced work culture, particularly within the Food Commercial team based in Holborn. With a strong commitment to employee development, flexible working options, and a comprehensive benefits package including generous discounts and performance-related bonuses, Sainsbury's not only values its employees but also empowers them to drive innovation and commercial success in their roles. Joining our team means being part of a dynamic environment where your contributions are recognised and celebrated, setting you up for a rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Household in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their products and market position so you can speak confidently about how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to secure the best deals. Role-play with a friend or mentor to get comfortable with discussing costs and terms.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Household in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Buyer role. Highlight your experience in managing product ranges and negotiating with suppliers, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve impacted sales, profit, or market share in previous roles. We love numbers and results, so let us know how you’ve made a difference!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly and gives you access to all the latest updates about the role. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Laundry & Dish categories. Understand current market trends, key competitors, and recent innovations. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Prepare for Supplier Negotiation Scenarios
Since negotiating with suppliers is a big part of the job, think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully negotiated terms. Be ready to discuss your strategies and the outcomes, as this will demonstrate your capability in achieving cost savings.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform your decisions in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've analysed product performance or market data to drive sales or optimise costs. This will highlight your ability to make data-driven decisions.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
This role requires working closely with various teams, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you've built effective relationships across functions to achieve common goals.
