At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive buying strategies and manage product ranges for a leading supermarket.
- Company: Join Sainsbury's, a dynamic and inclusive retailer focused on customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus up to 20%.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying plans and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
About the team
Our Food Commercial team plays a key role in shaping a competitive, customer-focused offer across supermarket, convenience and online channels. Working at the heart of the business, the team brings together commercial insight, supplier partnerships and customer understanding to deliver a distinctive range that supports our vision to help everyone eat better. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including Supply Chain, Product Development, Technical and Range Analytics to drive performance and continuous improvement. We are looking for a Buyer to join the team on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract.
More about the role
As a Buyer, you will be accountable for developing and delivering the buying and selling strategy for your category. You will own the end-to-end commercial performance of your range, including pricing, promotions, product selection and supplier partnerships. Your focus will be on growing market share and cash profit while maintaining a value-competitive and customer-focused offer.
Day to day, you will analyse market, customer and financial data to identify opportunities, lead cross-functional projects, and work closely with Range Analysts to shape a compelling product range. You will also negotiate product costs, influence stakeholders to align on category plans, and support the development of own brand products to strengthen the overall proposition.
More about you
You bring a commercial mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable plans. You are comfortable managing multiple priorities and working collaboratively across teams to deliver results. You are able to build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive performance aligned to business objectives. You demonstrate accountability for outcomes, can adapt your approach to different situations and communicate clearly to influence and engage others. You are focused on delivering measurable results, while contributing to a supportive and high-performing team environment.
Essential criteria
- Proven experience developing and delivering category or buying plans that drive commercial performance
- Demonstrable ability to analyse financial, market and customer data to inform decision-making
- Experience negotiating with suppliers to achieve agreed cost and commercial outcomes
- Evidence of managing cross-functional projects through to delivery
- Experience implementing pricing and promotional strategies aligned to commercial objectives
Responsibilities
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.
Qualifications
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 - Wine in London employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is an excellent employer for those passionate about fashion and design, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a dynamic team, employees can thrive while contributing to innovative womenswear collections that resonate with customers. Located in a supportive environment, Sainsbury's prioritises employee well-being and development, making it a rewarding place to build a career in the fashion industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Wine 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 Buyer - Wine 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:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Sainsbury's! 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
✨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 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 and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
