Buyer (Maternity Cover) in Birmingham

Department: Retail and Licensing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Contract Type: Specific Purpose (Maternity Cover)

Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum dependent on experience

Location: Bodymoor Heath Training Ground

Closing Date: Sunday 7 February 2026

The Department

At Aston Villa Football Club, our Retail and Licensing department plays a vital role in supporting the club's commercial success and fan engagement. We take pride in offering a wide variety of high-quality football merchandise and leisurewear to our supporters, both online and in-store, while maintaining a strong connection to our brand and culture. As the Club has grown, we have expanded our team to enhance the product offering and ensure we continue delivering an exceptional customer experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an innovative department that works collaboratively to bring our fans closer to the Club through products they love.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Buyer to join the team to provide maternity cover. In this key role, you will be responsible for sourcing, selecting, and purchasing football-related merchandise and leisurewear, ensuring that we stay ahead of market trends and continue to deliver exciting and relevant products to our fans. You will manage the end-to-end purchasing process from sourcing products and negotiating terms to managing stock levels, ensuring they are aligned with demand and seasonal events.

A typical day will involve collaborating with a range of stakeholders across the club, planning for new product launches, seasonal promotions, and special club milestones. You will also be involved in analysing sales data to ensure our products are meeting customer expectations and driving profitability. The role also offers an exciting opportunity to be part of key projects tied to club events, new kit launches, and special promotions. You will ensure that merchandise aligns with our financial goals, working within budgetary constraints while maximising value for our fans.

The Person

We’re looking for someone who is creative, adaptable, and can bring fresh ideas to the table. You will need to have proven experience in retail clothing buying, preferably within the football industry; strong negotiation skills and a solid understanding of the impact of margins on profitability are essential. The ability to analyse sales trends and make data-driven decisions is key to this role, along with the ability to effectively manage multiple stakeholders.

You must be highly organised, self-motivated, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Experience with inventory management systems and forecasting techniques is required. You will need to have access to a vehicle and/or be able to travel between our Club sites – Villa Park, London Office, and Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.

Why join us?

There has never been a better time to join Aston Villa Football Club. Our drive to succeed is visible on the global stage, we are building a family ethos and culture to be proud of, and we are realising ambitious plans for the expansion and improvement of our world-class facilities. If you are already excited by this challenge and want to play your part in our historic Club, you will be pleased to hear about the amazing staff benefits you’ll receive while working for us.

As part of your application, please ensure you upload your CV and Cover Letter.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embraces equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex, and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and, for some roles, a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club.