Assistant Buyer

B&Q plc; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

Career Growth

Discounts

Wellbeing Support

Holiday Entitlements

Inclusive Workplace

Impactful Work

Job summary

B&Q plc is seeking an Assistant Buyer to help create an inspiring product range while driving sales, margin, and market share across channels. The role involves vendor relationships, negotiating terms, and contributing to category strategy.

You will support end-to-end vendor management, range development, and the own-label proposition, collaborating with O&S, Marketing, and Digital teams to deliver promotions and optimal trading opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in sourcing and buying product ranges.
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Attention to detail and project management.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets customer needs and targets.
• Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range with vendors.
• Collaborate with O&S to shape an own-label proposition.
• Assist with end-to-end vendor strategy, contracts, and pricing negotiations.
• Coordinate sampling and QA for range development.
• Work with Marketing and Digital teams to secure assets for range and promotions.
• Ensure data setup for products and vendors in line with processes.

Skills

Vendor management

Sourcing experience

Communication

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Market insights

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they'll love. Join us as a Assistant Buyer and you'll be a big part of this. What's the job? Work with the Buyer to create and deliver an inspirational product range that meets the needs of our customers. Driving sales, margin (£GM & GM%) and market share across all channels, delivering vendor contributions, rebate, and retail price index targets through strong vendor partnerships. Be responsible for the performance of specific subcategories and the relevant vendor relationships.

• Work alongside the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets our customer needs, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk, whilst delivering against sales, margin, and market share targets.
• Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range, through developing relationships with new and existing vendors, which reflect the category strategy.
• Work alongside the Offer & Sourcing (O&S) team to shape and develop an own label proposition that meets the needs of our customers and market.
• Support the buying process, with an awareness of impact on cross functional teams, allowing for flexibility adhering to a critical path, to ensure stock is ordered and delivered on time.
• With the Buyer, support end to end vendor strategy management including contract and cost price negotiation, delivery of vendor contributions and annual performance review.
• Gather insights to support the creation of the category pricing hierarchy in line with framework principles, supporting the Buying Assistant with inputs into the Minderest comparison tool.
• With the category Merchandising team, support the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews.
• With the Visual Merchandising and Digital teams, support the creation and continuous improvement of customer journeys within our physical stores and online.
• With the Buying Assistant, co-ordinate and execute the sampling process for range development, including QA and Lab set up requirements.
• Work collaboratively with vendors, Marketing and Digital teams to support the acquisition and delivery of marketing assets for range and trading, including leading on brochures for the Category (where required).
• With the Buying Assistant, ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes, with accurate complete data.
• Use support tools such as Yammer to share category information and respond to queries.
• Conduct regular store (digital & physical), competitor and vendor visits, to increase understanding of the market and support the creation of the trading plan and inform decisions.
• Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels, internally and externally, to support the delivery of KPIs.
• Undertake other duties from time to time as may be reasonably required.
• Previous experience of sourcing and buying product ranges.
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Attention to detail to assist with issue resolution and problem solving.
• Experience of managing projects and holding stakeholders to account.
• Commercial and financial awareness.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Proactive.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.

At B&Q, we're building more than great homes - we're building great careers.

When you join us, you'll be part of a supportive, inclusive business where your ideas matter, your development is invested in, and your wellbeing is genuinely important.

Here's what you can expect:

• Flexible & Hybrid Working - Work in a way that helps you perform at your best, balancing business needs with personal commitments.
• Career Growth & Development - Access learning, development and career opportunities across one of the UK's leading retail organisations.
• Competitive Reward Package - A competitive salary, pension and a range of financial benefits.
• Colleague Discounts - Enjoy discounts across B&Q and the wider Kingfisher Group.
• Health & Wellbeing Support - Access wellbeing resources, health support and employee assistance programmes designed to help you thrive.
• Time Away From Work - Generous holiday entitlement and family-friendly policies that support life both inside and outside work.
• A Place Where You Belong - We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be themselves.
• Make a Difference - The work you do will have a direct impact on our customers, colleagues and business.

Eligibility To Work Please note that B&Q does not currently offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application and throughout their employment. Accessibility & Disability Confident At B&Q, we're committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience for everyone. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to help you complete your application or throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.