Assistant Buyer - Argos Lounge and Dining

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking an Assistant Buyer based in Coventry. The candidate will play a vital role in developing promotional strategies and managing supplier relationships. Applicants should have a background in buying, strong analytical skills, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Benefits include colleague discounts, flexible working, and potential bonuses.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Flexible working

Performance-related bonus

Health cash plans

Access to employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Previous buying team experience with understanding of key commercial KPIs.
• Intermediate Excel skills including vlookups and pivots.
• Ability to maintain data accuracy in a busy environment.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to promotional strategy for product category.
• Build relationships with UK suppliers and negotiate effectively.
• Manage administrative duties and sample management.

Skills

Commercial Awareness

Excel Proficiency

Organisational Skills

Collaboration

Problem-Solving Mindset

Communication Skills

Job description

Assistant Buyer - Argos Lounge and Dining

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits

Location: Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD

Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment

Business area: Non Food

Closing date: 29 September 2025

Requisition ID: 400019706

Overview

Joining the team at Argos, you\'ll find yourself at the forefront of UK retail, in a brand that is loved by millions of customers across the country. Argos is a market leader in the general merchandise sector, with the third most visited retail website and a market leading same day delivery and click&collect service. Whether it\'s working across our amazing owned-brands of Habitat, Chad Valley and Bush, or working with the biggest global consumer brands like Apple, Lego, Xbox or Samsung, we have a breadth of opportunity to nurture your career. The Argos Commercial teams work closely with many other functions across the business like Digital, Marketing, Retail and Logistics to deliver for our customers, allowing you to develop connections and learn from teams across the business. Development is important to us and you\'ll have the full support of your line manager in developing and growing your skill set and aiding your career aspirations.

What you\'ll do

You will play a vital role in delivering our ambitious growth plans and offering our customers a great range of products at competitive prices. You will contribute to the development of the 3-6 month promotional strategy for your category, ensuring accuracy in pricing across all channels. With a keen eye for relationship building and negotiation, coupled with your analytical approach, you will help drive sales and profit by implementing a variety of strategies. Your role will involve optimising the product range, considering the in-store experience and its impact on customers and store colleagues. Collaboration with the Product Development (PD) team and global sourcing will be crucial in setting quality criteria for own label products. As part of a fast-paced environment, you will showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work with UK suppliers, while efficiently managing administrative duties and sample management. Overall, your expertise in buying, combined with your commercial acumen and attention to detail, will be key in contributing to the success of our team.

Who you are

You are an experienced professional with a background in buying, preferably in a retail setting, and possess a deep understanding of product assortment, market trends, and the need for commercial acumen. Your strong analytical and numerical skills, combined with excellent communication and organisational abilities, enable you to contribute to range optimization, pricing accuracy, and promotional strategies. You are skilled in building relationships with UK suppliers and negotiating effectively, while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams. With your problem-solving mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, you play a crucial role in driving sales, ensuring product quality, and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Commercial Awareness – Previous buying team experience with an understanding of key commercial KPI’s e.g sales and profit.
• Excel Proficiency – intermediate skills required including vlookups and pivots
• High degree of accuracy - will thrive in a busy environment and maintain data accuracy
• Strong organisational skills – be able to demonstrate ability to prioritise workload
• Collaboration – strong team player who can work with multiple stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving Mindset – ability to adapt and find creative solutions.
• Communication skills - ability to contribute to meetings, update team on progress and outstanding actions.
• Hybrid working - required on site twice a week.

#Commercial

#Buying

Benefits

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you\'ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. There are opportunities to try something new across the business, and we support development. We recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and offer flexible working where possible. We also offer a range of benefits, including colleague discount (10% off at Sainsbury\'s, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks; 15% off at Sainsbury\'s on Fridays and Saturdays; 15% off at Argos on pay days), a pensions scheme and life cover, and a potential performance-related bonus of up to 5% of salary depending on performance. You\'ll also receive an annual holiday allowance with the option to buy additional holiday. Other benefits include season ticket loans, cycle to work, health cash plans, pay advance (access some pay before payday), discounts from hundreds of retailers, and access to an employee assistance programme. There is also provision for maternity or adoption leave up to 26 weeks and paternity leave up to 4 weeks. For more details, please see www.sainsburys.jobs (eligibility criteria may apply).

Please note, due to the volume of applications we receive, our roles may close early.