Assistant Buyer

The Royal Household; St. James's; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious royal organization located in St. James's is seeking an experienced Assistant Buyer to develop and deliver commercial product ranges aligned with brand values. This role requires strong product development skills and the ability to build effective supplier relationships. In addition to career growth, the role offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous leave, a non-contributory pension plan, and employee discounts.

Benefits

25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days

Non-contributory pension plan

Complimentary lunch on-site

Flexible and hybrid working options

20% discount at Royal Collection Trust Shops

Complimentary admission tickets

Qualifications

• Previous experience as an Assistant Buyer in a retail environment.
• Experience in homeware and gifting products is advantageous.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the buying team in developing and delivering product ranges.
• Manage supplier relationships and maintain team communication.
• Monitor and report on product performance.

Skills

Product development

Analytical skills

Supplier relationship management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Job description

About the role

It’s developing new and unique products that will fly off the shelves.

It’s feeling valued for your contribution. And it’s supporting a team that delivers commercial success that supports the ongoing care of a world-renowned collection. This is what makes working for the Royal Collection Trust exceptional.

Our retail operation spans eleven permanent shops, a seasonal outlet, selected partners and a growing online presence. The vast majority of our products are exclusive to us and designed in-house, with a strong emphasis on UK manufacturing and heritage.

Based at St James’s Palace, this is a great opportunity for an experienced Assistant Buyer to join a high-performing team. You’ll support the end-to-end development of product ranges that reflect the Royal Collection and align with our brand values. Working closely with our in-house design, merchandising and retail teams, you’ll play a key role in shaping product strategy and delivering ranges that resonate with our customers.

Key Responsibilities :

• Support the buying team in developing and delivering high-quality, commercially successful product ranges, from initial ideation, through to design, marketing, and launch.
• Manage supplier relationships and maintain clear communication across internal teams.
• Oversee the day-to-day work of the Buying Administrative Assistant.
• Monitor and report on product performance, using trade reports and margin analysis to inform decision making.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation including range plans, product specifications and cost price sheets.
• Contribute to trend research, competitor shopping, product benchmarking and category reviews.

About you

• With previous experience at an Assistant Buyer level in a retail environment, you’ll have a foundation in product development and a strong sense of what makes a range commercially and creatively successful.
• Experience in homeware and gifting products, along with knowledge of UK sourcing would also be an advantage.
• Driven by high standards, you can be relied upon to develop ranges that stand out in terms of design, quality and craftmanship.
• With excellent analytical and numerical skills, you’ll be confident analysing performance data to spot trends and look ahead to spot opportunities for future products.
• An exceptional communicator, you’ll be able to build and develop good working relationships with suppliers and colleagues alike.
• Organised, self-motivated and with a flexible approach, you’ll be able to manage a varied work and adapt to changing timescales and priorities.

Benefits

We know that to deliver our best work; we need to feel at our best. That’s why at the Royal Household we offer a generous benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and life priorities.

• Enjoy 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days (plus bank holidays) dependent on the length of time you have worked for us.
• Our excellent non-contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 15% and you can contribute more if you wish) is highly valued by our employees, as is complimentary lunch on-site to keep you fuelled throughout the day.
• Flexible and hybrid working varies across different roles, and we’ll discuss the options available to you that will suit both your job requirements and individual preferences.
• We also offer a range of leave options to support your life priorities, such as parental pay and leave and volunteering days, as well as benefits to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Other perks include 20% off at our Royal Collection Trust Shops and complimentary admission tickets across all our locations, along with many more exclusive employee discounts.