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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive strategic partnerships and negotiate high-impact deals to expand our product range.
- Company: Join Viking Europe, a leader in office products with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of our offerings and make a real impact across Europe.
- Qualifications: Experience in vendor management and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and influence multi-market strategies.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Vendor Manager role at Viking Europe. We’re looking for a commercially savvy Vendor Manager to join our European team and help expand the Viking offering beyond core office products. This is a chance to shape an assortment that truly showcases what we can offer business customers, all while working independently, building strategic partnerships, and collaborating across borders. If you thrive on negotiating high-impact deals, developing extended product ranges, and influencing multi-market strategies, this is the role for you.
About the Role
As our Vendor Manager, you’ll take ownership of strategic partnerships, vendor negotiations, and extended assortment strategy. You’ll identify and engage new vendors, manage high-value relationships, and drive the end-to-end lifecycle of products to ensure every decision supports sales and margin growth. You’ll play a key role in shaping Viking’s differentiated offering and influencing what we bring to market, showcasing that we supply much more than the office products we’re so well known for.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Strategic Partnerships & Negotiation: Identify and secure partnerships that open new markets and opportunities. Lead commercial negotiations that deliver win-win outcomes for Viking and our partners. Structure strategic agreements such as alliances, sourcing deals, licensing, and joint ventures. Stay on top of market developments and trends to drive category expansion.
- Assortment & Pricing Ownership: Shape and execute the extended assortment strategy, from product selection to onboarding. Own pricing decisions to optimise competitiveness and margin. Lead sourcing and development for private/own-brand ranges.
- Vendor & Sourcing Strategy: Develop vendor and sourcing strategies to strengthen costs, margins, and rebates. Drive negotiations that secure improved contractual terms and cash flow. Monitor vendor performance and champion continuous improvement.
- Cross-Border Collaboration & Customer Focus: Partner with Sales across Europe to meet customer needs and support major deals. Build strong internal relationships to align stakeholders on assortment and sourcing strategy. Provide market-relevant insights to inform decision-making on costs, forecasting, and vendor performance.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven experience in business development, vendor management, partnerships, or assortment strategy.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of leading negotiations and improving cost/margin performance.
- Hands-on experience developing product and pricing strategies across multiple markets or countries.
- Ability to work independently while building trust and influencing stakeholders across functions and borders.
- Analytical mindset with confidence interpreting market trends, forecasting costs, and driving strategic decisions.
- A degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or a related field (MBA a plus).
Seniority Level: Mid-Senior level
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Function: Management and Manufacturing
Industries: Retail and Wholesale
Vendor Manager in Leicester employer: Viking Europe
Contact Detail:
Viking Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Vendor Manager in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 discuss how your skills as a Vendor Manager can help them expand their offerings and improve their vendor relationships.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your negotiation skills! Be ready to share examples of successful deals you've closed or partnerships you've built. This will demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to drive results, which is key for the Vendor Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Viking Europe.
We think you need these skills to ace Vendor Manager in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Vendor Manager role. Highlight your experience in vendor management, partnerships, and any relevant commercial negotiations. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention specific examples of your successes in similar positions.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires an analytical mindset, make sure to include examples of how you've interpreted market trends or driven strategic decisions in your previous roles. We love seeing data-driven decision-making in action!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to keep track of your application status. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Viking Europe
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the current market trends relevant to the Vendor Manager role. Understand what Viking Europe is doing in terms of vendor partnerships and product offerings. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their strategy.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of past negotiations you've led that resulted in win-win outcomes. Highlight your ability to structure strategic agreements and how these experiences can translate to success at Viking. Be ready to discuss your approach to securing partnerships and improving margins.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Border Collaboration
Since this role involves working across borders, think of instances where you've successfully collaborated with teams from different regions. Share how you built relationships and aligned stakeholders on strategies, as this will show your ability to thrive in a diverse environment.
✨Be Data-Driven
Viking values an analytical mindset, so come prepared with insights from your previous roles. Discuss how you've used data to inform decisions on pricing, assortment strategies, or vendor performance. This will demonstrate your capability to drive strategic decisions based on market analysis.
