Assistant Buyer Building FTC

Kingfisher; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading home improvement retailer in Eastleigh is looking for an Assistant Buyer to assist in developing a compelling product range and managing vendor relationships. This role offers a 12-month fixed-term contract with hybrid working arrangements, allowing you to work part-time in the office. Join a team that values diversity and offers extensive benefits including a competitive salary, pension scheme, and holiday allowances.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Bonus

ShareSave options

6.6 weeks holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in sourcing and buying product ranges is essential.
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
• Previous experience in vendor management and contract negotiation preferred.
• Strong communication and influencing skills are necessary.
• Attention to detail for issue resolution and problem solving is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Buyer in creating and delivering a product range.
• Identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Support the sourcing and development of product ranges.
• Collaborate with various teams to ensure timely product delivery.
• Manage vendor relationships and support end-to-end strategies.

Skills

Sourcing and buying experience

Understanding customer insights

Vendor management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Attention to detail

Project management

Commercial awareness

Flexibility

Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint)

Job description

Overview

Assistant Buyer - Building

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

From 40000 Pension BUPA ShareSave 6.6 weeks holiday Hybrid Working (3 days per week in the office)

Southampton Store Support Office

We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as a Merchandising Assistant and you’ll be a big part of this.

Whats the job

Purpose: Work with the Buyer to create and deliver an inspirational product range that meets the needs of our customers, driving sales margin (GM & GM%) and market share across all channels delivering vendor contributions rebate and retail price index targets through strong vendor partnerships. Be responsible for the performance of specific subcategories and the relevant vendor relationships.

• Work alongside the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets our customer needs.
• Identify opportunities and mitigate risk while delivering against sales margin and market share targets.
• Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range through developing relationships with new and existing vendors which reflect the category strategy.
• Work alongside the Offer & Sourcing (O&S) team to shape and develop an own label proposition that meets the needs of our customers and market.
• Support the buying process with an awareness of impact on cross‑functional teams allowing for flexibility and adherence to a critical path to ensure stock is ordered and delivered on time.
• With the Buyer, support end‑to‑end vendor strategy management including contract and cost‑price negotiation, delivery of vendor contributions and annual performance review.
• Gather insights to support the creation of the category pricing hierarchy in line with framework principles supporting the Buying Assistant with inputs into the Minderest comparison tool.
• With the category Merchandising team support the product lifecycle, including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews.
• With the Visual Merchandising and Digital teams support the creation and continuous improvement of customer journeys within our physical stores and online.
• With the Buying Assistant coordinate and execute the sampling process for range development, including QA and Lab set‑up requirements.
• Work collaboratively with vendors, Marketing and Digital teams to support the acquisition and delivery of marketing assets for range and trading, including leading on brochures for the Category (where required).
• With the Buying Assistant ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes with accurate, complete data.
• Use support tools such as Yammer to share category information and respond to queries.
• Conduct regular store (digital & physical) competitor and vendor visits to increase understanding of the market and support the creation of the trading plan and inform decisions.
• Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels, internally and externally, to support the delivery of KPIs.
• Undertake other duties from time to time as may be reasonably required.

What we need :

• Previous experience of sourcing and buying product ranges.
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Attention to detail to assist with issue resolution and problem solving.
• Experience of managing projects and holding stakeholders to account.
• Commercial and financial awareness.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Proactive.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills in particular Excel and PowerPoint.

Whats in it for me

As part of a great team you’ll be valued for who you are. We’re committed to making B&Q more diverse and representative of the communities we serve where everyone can feel they belong and have equal opportunities. You will have access to a range of networks that represent our colleagues and allies and help us to continue to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business.

We also recognise that wellness means different things to different people and we want to help colleagues be at their best and feel well by offering a range of benefits to help you. As well as a competitive salary our benefits package includes an award‑winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and lots more!

So we can support you during the application or interview process please contact for any recruitment adjustments.

Required Experience :

Contract

Key Skills

• Microsoft Office, Purchasing, Organizational skills, AS400, Math, Pricing, Analysis Skills, Merchandising, Microsoft Excel, Retail Math, Administrative Experience, negotiation

Employment Type :

Contract

Experience :

years

Vacancy :

1