At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the UK buying team and develop innovative strategies for diverse product categories.
- Company: Join Solent Group, a global leader in bespoke product innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible hours, extensive benefits, and great career progression.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with international travel opportunities and a vibrant company culture.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment with exciting products and trends.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in buying leadership with strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
Solent Group works with a diverse portfolio of retailers and supplies bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags.
We are proud to be best‑in‑class when it comes to own‑label product innovation.
Our categories are fast‑paced with ever‑evolving trends and a host of ground‑breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary.
We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our global customers.
You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.
- Reporting To
- Global Sourcing & Product Director
- Location
- Hybrid, commuting distance to Head Office in Christchurch, Dorset
- Travel
- Internationally & locally
About The Role
The Head of Buying will lead the UK buying team to deliver our group strategy with our UK & European suppliers, working consistently alongside the Asia buying team and ensuring consistent collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the group to deliver growth and continual improvement.
As a member of the leadership team, the Head of Buying is accountable for the effective leadership, performance and delivery of their area of responsibility.
The successful candidate is expected to operate with a group mindset, working collaboratively across the business to achieve shared objectives, deliver sustainable results and support the wider strategic priorities of the Group.
- Key Accountabilities
- Track key metrics and ensure the department delivers measurable results.
- Act as the bridge between senior leadership, employees, and external partners.
- Handle financial planning, resource allocation and cost efficiency.
- Drive continuous development, embrace new technologies and optimise processes.
- Ensure working collaboratively with peers, leading by example for teams to work across all department functions.
- Ensure BCP planning is in place for the area of responsibility.
- Oversee decisions, providing expert insight and ensuring risks are managed effectively.
- Lead, support and develop a team, ensuring productivity and morale remain high.
- Optimise processes throughout the area of responsibility to maximise efficiency and accuracy.
Key Responsibilities
- Group Buying Strategy
- Develop and own the end‑to‑end UK & Europe buying strategy, ensuring alignment with overall business goals, brand positioning and regional trading priorities.
- Translate long‑term commercial objectives into actionable seasonal buying plans, category strategies and range architecture across multiple markets.
- Continuously evolve the buying strategy based on market trends, consumer behaviour, competitor activity and performance insights to drive growth and profitability.
- Lead Buying group strategy quarterly meetings and ensure annual top‑to‑top suppliers meetings.
- Cascade and embed buying strategy through category plans, ensuring alignment across teams to deliver NPD, volume and profitable growth targets.
- Own performance across UK & Europe buying team, driving action plans to deliver KPI targets and reporting on performance.
- Ensure up‑to‑date plans for emergencies and incidents which may impact normal business.
- Team Management
- Lead, coach and develop the UK & Europe Buying team, ensuring strong performance culture, succession planning and capability development aligned to business needs as well as ensuring the team all have personal development plans.
- Own succession planning and organisational design for the buying function to ensure long‑term capability and leadership pipeline strength.
- Stakeholder Management
- Organise, monitor and improve relationships with suppliers, customers and cross‑functional colleagues.
- Lead cross‑functional and group wide collaboration to drive improvement and optimise performance.
- Budget & Cost Management
- Show monthly budget management and VO delivered to improve cost efficiencies.
- Deliver supplier income.
- Drive VO to drive continual GP2 improvement.
- Implement CPI mitigation plans.
- Processes
- Ensure all buying documented processes and guides are kept up to date and trained across the team.
- Constantly review processes to drive improvement.
- Plan, execute and oversee workflows to ensure buying tasks get done quickly and effectively.
Skills & Experience
- A buying leader with 5+ years' experience managing global sourcing, product development and project management in a complex, multi‑site or multi‑brand environment.
- A proven track record of leading a sizeable team and building effective relationships with senior business leaders.
- Strong product knowledge across beauty, household, shopping bag, food and hardlines products.
- Excellent supplier relationship management.
- Strong market, business and commercial sense with strong analytical skills and risk assessment.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Strong experience in handling clients/customers, budget control is a must.
- Presentable, confident, calm and professional manner.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary with annual salary reviews.
- 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service.
- Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits.
- Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff with an office presence ideally once a week.
- Great learning and development and progression opportunities.
- Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets).
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
- Generous company sick pay.
- Pension scheme contribution.
- Annual social events.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Buying UK/EU in Christchurch employer: Solent Group
Join a dynamic and innovative company that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a competitive salary and extensive benefits including flexible working hours and a supportive work culture. As a B2B Sales Manager in the FMCG sector, you will lead a high-performing team while enjoying opportunities for professional development and a collaborative environment that values accountability and customer service. With a focus on achieving ambitious sales targets, you'll be part of a thriving organisation that rewards success and fosters a strong sense of community through social events and comprehensive support programmes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying UK/EU in Christchurch
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Solent Group, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Solent Group!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying UK/EU in Christchurch
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Solent Group, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Solent Group and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Solent Group that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Solent Group
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
