Assistant Buyer

Cotswold Outdoor Ltd.; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting salary £28,000–£29,500

Hybrid working options

Holiday Buying Scheme

EV Salary Sacrifice scheme

Volunteer day

33 days holiday

Staff discounts

Perks hub

Job summary

Cotswold Outdoor Ltd. is seeking an Assistant Buyer for a hybrid role based in Swindon. You will support seasonal ranges, analyse performance, and manage supplier relationships to secure best costs and margins.

The role involves collaboration across Merchandising, Marketing, VM and Digital teams for successful launches. The position offers a starting salary of £28,000–£29,500 with a yearly bonus and benefits, reflecting our move to a new central office.

Qualifications

• Experience as Assistant Buyer or a strong Buying Admin Assistant seeking progression.
• Experience from outdoor, snowsports, camping, fashion, sportswear or FMCG.
• Strong commercial awareness with an eye for market trends.
• Highly analytical with numerical data and sales figures.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management.
• Capable of building supplier relationships and negotiations.
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint with multi-priority skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Seasonal Buyer to develop profitable Snowsports and Camping ranges.
• Analyse sales performance, market trends and competitor activity.
• Build supplier relationships and support negotiations for best costs and margins.
• Aid in range reviews, seasonal analysis and presentations to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Marketing, VM and Digital teams for launches.
• Monitor weekly trading performance and provide actionable insights.
• Manage product samples and assist with seasonal shoots and launches.
• Deputise for Buyer and represent category at supplier meetings and trade fairs.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Numerical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Negotiation

Communication

Job description

This is a hybrid role with a minimum of three days in the office per week.

At Cotswold Outdoor Group, the outdoors isn’t just where we work, it’s who we are. Every day, our head office teams play a vital role in helping people get outside, explore more, and experience the world around them.

We’re looking for a Assistant Buyer to join us on that journey. This role is about more than just day-to-day responsibilities, it’s about shaping how we inspire our customers, support our stores, and grow our community of adventurers.

We’ve officially made the move to our new office in the heart of Swindon and couldn’t be more excited. Our brand-newsustainable office at 1 Newbridge Squareputs us right next to the train station and the new bus boulevard, making it easier than ever to connect. This move marks an exciting new chapter in our journey, and our new space has been designed with the future in mind – supporting collaboration, wellbeing, and our commitment to working more sustainably.

About us

We believe life’s better when it’s lived outdoors. From hiking and wild swimming to simply stepping away from the screen, nature helps us feel alive.

At our head office, every role helps make those adventures possible. Whether it’s shaping our systems, supporting our teams or driving key initiatives, you’ll play a vital part in helping people get outside and explore more.

We’re part of the Cotswold Outdoor Group, including Runners Need and Snow + Rock, offering trusted brands, expert advice, and a commitment to protecting the planet.

Whether it’s your first step or your next move, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and be part of something bigger.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the Seasonal Buyer to develop and deliver profitable Snowsports and Camping product ranges.
• Analysing sales performance, market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities and drive commercial decisions.
• Building strong supplier relationships and supporting negotiations to achieve the best costs, margins and product performance.
• Preparing and presenting range reviews, seasonal analysis and sign-off presentations to key stakeholders.
• Collaborating with Merchandising, Marketing, Visual Merchandising and Digital teams to deliver successful product launches and campaigns.
• Monitoring weekly trading performance and KPIs, providing actionable insights and recommendations.
• Managing the product sample process and supporting seasonal photoshoots and product launches.
• Deputising for the Buyer when required and representing the category at supplier meetings, trade fairs and store visits.

We’re looking for someone who

• Has experience as an Assistant Buyer, or is a strong Buying Admin Assistant looking to progress.
• Brings experience from outdoor, snowsports, camping, fashion, sportswear or FMCG environments.
• Has strong commercial awareness and a passion for consumer and market trends.
• Is highly analytical with excellent numerical skills and confidence working with sales data.
• Has strong communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Can build effective supplier relationships and demonstrate good negotiation skills.
• Is proficient in Excel and PowerPoint and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Is proactive, organised, resilient and enjoys working collaboratively in a fast-paced retail environment.

What you’ll get from us

Joining our team means more than just getting paid a salary, it’s about being part of a workplace that values you, your growth and your wellbeing.

You’ll enjoy:

• Starting salary of £28000 - £29500 with a yearly bonus of up to £1,530
• Hybrid working options to support your work-life balance
• Holiday Buying Scheme - contract dependant
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice scheme - dependent on meeting eligibility
• Volunteer day with a charity of your choice
• 33 days holiday allowing you to recharge and explore the outdoors
• Staff discounts of 40-60% across our full range of outdoor brands
• Savings on everyday essentials including groceries, travel, fitness, and entertainment through our perks hub

Everyone’s welcome

We welcome applications from all genders, backgrounds, and experiences. Diverse teams make us stronger, helping us learn, grow, and create a place where everyone belongs.

We want to hear your voice so encourage you to write your own application and use AI tools sparingly. We’re looking for honesty, authenticity, and a real sense of who you are. Applications that feel generic or AI-generated may not stand out.

This advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications, so don’t wait too long to apply.