At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive the Diet, Fitness & Drinks category strategy and identify new growth opportunities.
- Company: Join Superdrug, a vibrant and inclusive employer committed to health and beauty.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, staff discounts, hybrid working, and a company pension.
- Other info: Collaborative office near East Croydon station with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping health and wellness trends.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying with strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 28350 - 34650 £ per year.
This job is with Superdrug, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Join Superdrug Head Office - Make a Real Difference Every Day!
Hours: 37.5 | 9.00am - 5.30pm - Hybrid working available depending on role responsibilities with 2 days working from home and 3 days in our stylish, modern and collaborative office close to East Croydon Station.
Our vibrant Head Office, based by East Croydon station is a fantastic environment filled with hundreds of brilliant personalities. At Superdrug, we aim to be the best in accessible health & beauty, loved by our customers for value, choice, friendly advice, service and fun. We're all about personality, we have fun, and we work hard to deliver That Superdrug feeling.
This is an exciting and fast-moving category covering Diet, Sports Nutrition, Fitness and Drinks, with the opportunity to shape the future of the range, identify new growth opportunities and respond quickly to changing customer needs and emerging health and wellness trends.
We're looking for someone who is commercially minded, passionate about health and wellness, and constantly looking for the next big product, brand or trend. You'll take ownership of the category, identifying new opportunities, building strong supplier relationships and delivering ranges, promotions and pricing that drive sales, profit and customer engagement.
You'll use customer, market and performance data to understand what's working, identify gaps and make confident commercial decisions. You'll work closely with Merchandising, Marketing and Supply Chain, as well as meeting existing and prospective brands to ensure Superdrug stays ahead of the market.
A proven background in buying is key to this role, alongside strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills and an understanding of the retail market. Experience within Diet, Sports Nutrition, Fitness, Health, Wellness, Food or Drinks would be advantageous, but a genuine passion for the category, a strong product eye and awareness of current and emerging trends are just as important.
- Own and develop the Diet, Fitness & Drinks category strategy, identifying opportunities to grow sales, market share and profitability.
- Develop, implement and deliver category plans including range reviews, promotions, pricing and stock, ensuring they are aligned with the overall commercial strategy and financial objectives.
- Stay close to health, wellness, nutrition, fitness and drinks trends, proactively identifying emerging brands, products, ingredients and changing customer needs.
- Identify and implement new product and brand opportunities that are competitively priced, commercially viable and meet customer needs, driving incremental sales and profitability.
- Use customer, competitor and market insight to identify range gaps and future growth opportunities, ensuring Superdrug remains relevant and competitive.
- Build strong relationships with both established suppliers and emerging brands, using appropriate negotiation strategies to secure the best possible commercial terms for the category and the wider business.
- Review and evaluate the effectiveness of promotions, using results and learnings to optimise future plans and sharing best practice with peers and key stakeholders.
- Work closely with the Supply Chain team to ensure base sales and promotional forecasts are adhered to, while maintaining strong in-store and online availability to meet customer demand.
- Develop effective internal relationships across cross-functional teams to support and enhance category objectives and performance.
- Develop, build and maintain effective external relationships with suppliers and brands to strengthen the Superdrug proposition and meet evolving customer needs.
- Act as the category expert, continually developing your knowledge of products, brands, competitors, innovation and wider market activity.
- Work cross-functionally to bring the category to life both in-store and online, ensuring our ranges are easy to shop, relevant, innovative and engaging for our customers.
A strong product eye with the ability to spot new brands, trends and commercial opportunities. Experience within Health, Wellness, Sports Nutrition, FMCG, Food or Drinks would be beneficial. Very strong commercial awareness, problem-solving skills and proactivity. Proven negotiation skills with the ability to deliver strong commercial outcomes. Excellent Excel skills and confidence using data and insight to inform commercial decisions.
33 days holiday, rising to 38 days with length of service, inclusive of bank holidays. 2 staff discount codes for yourself and a family member or friend. 30% discount on Superdrug Own Brand products, both in store and online. Hybrid working patterns available depending on role responsibilities, with 2 days working from home and 3 days in our stylish, modern and collaborative office close to East Croydon station. Company pension matching and bonus. Access to Wagestream, a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it. Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave, company sick pay, and pregnancy loss support.
Procurement Associate [Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover] employer: Superdrug
At Superdrug, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where beauty enthusiasts can thrive. Our commitment to professional development through in-house training ensures that our Beauty Therapists stay at the forefront of industry trends, while our generous benefits package, including competitive pay and family-friendly policies, makes us a supportive workplace. Located in Bangor, our team enjoys not only a fulfilling career but also exclusive discounts and exciting employee events that foster camaraderie and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Associate [Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover]
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Associate [Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover]
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Superdrug that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Superdrug can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Superdrug that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Superdrug know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Superdrug
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
