Buying Director

Are you a senior buying leader who loves building great teams, finding brilliant products and making things happen? We're working with a fast-growing, entrepreneurial consumer goods business that's on a serious growth journey - and they're looking for a Head of Buying to take their buying function to the next level. This is a brilliant opportunity to join a business where you won't be drowning in red tape. You'll report directly into the CEO, have real influence over the product strategy and play a key role in shaping how the business grows.

The role

• You'll take ownership of the buying strategy across multiple consumer product categories, leading an established team and making sure the right products, suppliers and commercial opportunities are in place to drive growth.
• You'll manage a team of buyers across different levels, giving them the direction, support and development they need to perform at their best.
• You'll also remain hands-on - building senior supplier relationships, negotiating deals and getting stuck into the big commercial decisions.
• Your world will include:
• Owning and developing the overall buying strategy
• Setting category, margin and supplier targets
• Leading, coaching and developing a team of 5
• Building and managing key supplier relationships
• Leading negotiations and sourcing opportunities, including the Far East
• Driving range and category strategy
• Using sales, market and trend data to spot the next big opportunity
• Owning buying budgets, forecasting and margin performance
• Working closely with Marketing, Operations and Logistics
• Managing licensed product ranges, including Disney and Bluey
• Representing the business at trade shows and industry events
• Reporting on performance, opportunities and risks directly to the CEO

What are we looking for?

You'll need to be an experienced Buying Manager, Head of Buying or senior category leader who has successfully managed a buying team and knows how to balance strategy with getting stuck into the detail. Ideally, you'll bring:

• Significant senior buying/category management experience
• Proven experience leading and developing a multi-level buying team
• Strong supplier negotiation experience, ideally with Far East sourcing
• Experience across multiple consumer goods/FMCG categories
• Strong commercial understanding, including budgets, margin and P&L
• The confidence to influence at CEO/board level
• A strategic, entrepreneurial mindset
• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Experience across Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop, D2C or wholesale would be a bonus, as would licensed product experience.
• Mandarin is desirable but absolutely not essential.

Why join?

This isn't a role where you'll simply inherit a buying strategy and keep things ticking over. You'll have the opportunity to shape the function, develop the team, influence the product direction and genuinely make your mark on a growing business. You'll get hybrid working, birthday leave, product discounts, quarterly socials, on-site parking and, most importantly, plenty of autonomy and opportunity to make a difference.

If you're a commercially minded buying leader who wants real ownership, real influence and a business with plenty of growth ahead, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now with your latest CV!