Are you a passionate and commercially-minded individual looking to take the next step in your buying career? Our client, a fast-growing, customer-focused company, is seeking a talented Junior Buyer to join their team.
This is a fantastic opportunity to own your own product ranges and make a real impact on their business. You'll be instrumental in developing new products, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring all key performance indicators are met.
What You'll Be Doing:
* Sourcing and Strategy: You'll be responsible for sourcing and selecting your own range, delivering on sales, margin, and stock goals. You'll work with the merchandising team to develop a comprehensive department strategy in line with sales data, market data, seasonal trends, and SWOT analysis.
* Trading and Performance: You'll be a key player in weekly trade meetings, using sales reports and an understanding of the WSSI to make decisions that capitalize on opportunities and minimize risks. You'll react quickly to competitor activity and identify new product opportunities.
* Supplier and Stakeholder Management: You'll lead relationships with suppliers, focusing on their capacity, quality, and pricing. You'll also work closely with a wide range of internal teams, including Sourcing, Marketing, and E-commerce, to ensure a smooth product lifecycle from development to launch.
* Team Leadership: You'll be accountable for managing the development of your direct report(s), providing guidance and support through one-on-ones and performance reviews.
Who Our Client Is Looking For:
* Experience and Commercial Acumen: You have some experience managing budgets and owning your own range. You understand how product specifications impact quality, lead times, and costs.
* Customer-Focused: You have a genuine passion for products and a strong interest in the customer journey. You're always thinking about how to improve the customer experience.
* Communication and Negotiation Skills: You can adapt your communication and negotiation style to different situations and can present your ideas in a clear, engaging way during trade meetings.
* Technical Skills: You are competent in using MS Office, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint. You have experience with or a strong understanding of technical tools such as the WSSI (Weekly Sales, Stock, and Intake) and are familiar with strategic analysis, including SWOT analysis.
Desirable Criteria: At least one year of experience as an Assistant or Junior Buyer is preferred.
If you're a proactive, analytical, and product-focused individual ready for a challenge, we'd love to hear from you!