Assistant Buyer

Retail Human Resources plc; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company seeks an Assistant Buyer in Redditch to enhance its product ranges. The ideal candidate will have experience in a Buying function, strong analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally. This role offers competitive benefits, including hybrid working, and is crucial for achieving market share goals.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus

Hybrid work model

Employee discounts

Ongoing personal development

Qualifications

• Experience in a Buying or Category role is essential.
• Strong analytical skills with an eye for detail.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and channels.

Responsibilities

• Implement effective category strategies.
• Monitor trading performance through planning and forecasting.
• Drive progress on ESG targets.

Skills

Category management

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Communication

Commercial awareness

Job description

About us

At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience—from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.

The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.

If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.

About the role

We’re looking for passionate, detail-driven individuals to step into a key role at the core of our commercial engine. As an Assistant Buyer, you’ll play a vital part in building and delivering market-leading product ranges that hit the right price, at the right time, in the right way – helping us reach our financial and market share goals.

Working alongside an experienced Buyer, you’ll collaborate across the business – from providing customer insights to influencing planning cycles, driving value with Procurement, supporting ESG ambitions, and partnering with Stock, Digital, and Store Operations teams to ensure seamless execution across all channels.

If you’re ready to bring your commercial edge, collaborative mindset, and love for product to a role that truly makes an impact – this is your opportunity.

Key responsibilities

• Implement effective category strategies covering supplier management, buying, ranging, margin mix, promotional planning, merchandising, and stock management with a true multi-channel focus.
• Monitor and manage trading performance through rigorous planning and forecasting to meet revenue, margin, profit, and market share targets.
• Develop strong supplier partnerships and buying alliances to deliver procurement benefits.
• Drive progress on ESG targets including packaging, product sustainability, emissions, and science-based commitments.
• Ensure accurate and timely product setup and data capture.
• Champion innovation across the category to keep the offer fresh and competitive.
• Monitor customer experience metrics and implement tactical actions when needed.
• Collaborate with operational and channel teams to maximise trading opportunities.
• Act as the product expert, working with proposition, procurement, and suppliers to deliver a market-leading, financially robust range.
• Support the customer team in shaping category strategy and propositions through insight and analysis.

About you

• Transferable experience in a similar Buying / Category role.
• Commercially savvy and highly analytical, with a sharp eye for data and detail.
• Driven, hands-on, and results-focused, with the energy and agility to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• A natural collaborator with a “can-do” mindset and the ability to work cross-functionally across teams and channels.
• Strong in planning and execution, with a pragmatic approach and relentless focus on delivering against targets.
• An excellent communicator—clear, persuasive, and confident in influencing at all levels of the business.
• Ambitious and self-motivated, eager to grow, learn, and progress in a high-performance retail environment.

Reward & benefits

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development to help you grow in your current role and future career aspirations.
• Hybrid working in our Support Centre: based at the Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.
• Employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion resources and ongoing support, including Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days per week on-site at our Support Centre in Redditch Worcestershire.