Assistant Buyer

Neptune (Europe) Ltd; Lydiard Millicent; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A British homewares company seeks an Assistant Buyer to join the Buying & Product Development team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves supporting the buying process, managing samples and the critical path, and building supplier relationships. Ideal candidates will have experience in a buying environment, strong data management skills, and a passion for home interiors. Benefits include competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and various employee perks.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous Holiday Allowance

Life Assurance

Company sick pay

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Cycle to work scheme

Gym membership

Generous item discounts

Birthday day off

Two paid volunteer days a year

Day off if you become a Grandparent

Week off for life events

Refer a friend scheme

Long service holiday allowance increase

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a buying environment.
• Experience managing a retail critical path and working with international suppliers.
• Knowledge of homewares market and competitors.

Responsibilities

• Support the product team on the critical path.
• Oversee sample management.
• Work with product development technologists and designers.
• Research and prepare reports on competitor products and price.
• Meet deadlines in the product development plan.
• Build strong supplier relationships.

Skills

Organised

Detail-focused

Strong data entry skills

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

PowerPoint proficiency

Word proficiency

Job description

At Neptune, everything we make is designed to last - thoughtfully crafted pieces that feel good to live with and are made responsibly, from the very beginning. Behind every product is a deep commitment to quality, sustainability and integrity, and we're looking for an Assistant Buyer to join our Buying & Product Development team, on a fixed term contract for 12 months.

His is a role for someone who loves home and interiors, thrives on organisation, and enjoys being part of the process that brings new ranges to life. As Assistant Buyer, you'll support the Buyers and Lead Buyers across specific categories, managing the critical path from initial brief through to launch. You'll help ensure deadlines are met, information is accurate, and communication flows smoothly across the business and with our external partners.

You'll play a key role in developing new ranges and managing continuity product, working closely with design, technology and suppliers to ensure everything meets Neptune's standards for quality, margin and finish.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the wider product team on the critical path, ensuring dates are correct and communicated effectively to all internal departments
• Overseeing our sample management, ensuring samples and swatches are appropriately organised, filed and archived
• Working closely with the product development technologists, designers and manufacturers to negotiate and establish the best route to final approved samples
• Researching and preparing reports on competitor products and price for the use of the wider team
• Meeting all stages and deadlines within the seasonal product development plan and recording the status of each product
• Communicating effectively with our supply base and building strong supplier relationships
• Always ensuring accuracy and attention to detail when managing our range plan and supplier information in addition to additional ad‑hoc administrative responsibilities

You'll already have experience in a buying environment and feel confident working across multiple projects at once. You're organised, detail-focused and naturally curious, with a genuine passion for homewares and interiors. We're looking for someone with proven experience managing a retail critical path and working with offshore manufacturing and international suppliers. It's important that you have strong data entry and data management skills and confident using Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Ideally, you'll have knowledge of the homewares market and our key competitors, and a good understanding of costing, margin and range building.

You'll be exceptionally organised with a high level of attention to detail, process-driven and methodical and confident communicating with a wide range of stakeholders. You'll be part of a supportive, knowledgeable team where craftsmanship, collaboration and considered thinking come first.

What Benefits we can offer you

• Competitive salary
• Generous Holiday Allowance
• Life Assurance
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Gym membership
• Generous Neptune new item and outlet discounts
• Perkbox: Wellbeing Hub and Retail Discounts Portal
• Your birthday day off
• Two paid volunteer days a year
• Day off if you become a Grandparent
• A week off to celebrate a life event
• Refer a friend scheme
• Long service holiday allowance increase

Training Workshops

Across all locations, we stay united by our company values: Do The Right Thing, Do It Together, Aim High and Keep It Real.

We're an equal opportunities employer; our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams, with all colleagues and applicants afforded the same opportunities. We encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work, in an environment that actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and where everyone's voices are heard.

Our Story

Founded in 1996 by friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman, Neptune design and make pieces for your whole home. Recognised for our exacting standards, design-led aesthetic and expert craftsmanship, we're perhaps most known for kitchens - with heirloom-worthy dressers not far behind. Neptune's trademark 'look' is British: refined, simple, sturdy, and with an almost obsessive attention to detail. We're also respected for our commitment to craft and quality. Put simply, we make things we're proud of, and that are designed to last a lifetime.

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