Assistant Buyer - Level 1

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supermarket chain in Coventry seeks an experienced professional in buying to deliver growth plans. Key responsibilities include developing promotional strategy, optimizing product range, and building supplier relationships. Ideal candidates should have strong analytical skills and experience in retail buying. Competitive salary and various benefits, including discounts and performance bonuses, are offered.

Benefits

Colleague discount on shopping

Pensions scheme and life cover

Performance-related bonus

Annual holiday allowance

Employee assistance programme

Maternity and paternity leave benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in buying preferably in a retail setting.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver ambitious growth plans for product range.
• Contribute to promotional strategy ensuring pricing accuracy.
• Collaborate with Product Development and sourcing teams.

Skills

Analytical skills

Numerical skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Job description

Overview

Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Sainsbury's Store Support Centre Draken Drive Ansty Park, Coventry West Midlands, CV7 9RD

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our stores starts out in Food Commercial. Whether it’s the product, proposition, packaging or price, or the fact that something tastes great, our team is responsible for all food items available in store, digitally and on demand. You’ll discover it’s incredibly fast-paced. People here are in it together and not afraid to take risks. They’re enthusiastic too, and their amazing leadership team is right behind them. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves, anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about food and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits | Location: Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD | Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment | Business area: Food Commercial | Closing date: 29 September 2025 | Requisition ID: 400020545

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.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in buying (preferably within retail setting)
• Strong Analytical and numerical skills

Benefits

• Colleague discount: save 10% on shopping online and in-store at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat; discount can reach 15% at points during the year
• Pensions scheme and life cover
• Performance-related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on performance
• Annual holiday allowance with option to buy up to an additional week's holiday
• Other benefits: season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance, discounts from hundreds of other retailers
• Employee assistance programme
• Up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave

Notes

Additional notes: please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).