Assistant Category Manager/Assistant Buyer

Box Recruitment Group; Heald Green; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Early finish Fridays

Extra holidays

Free parking

Career progression

Job summary

Box Recruitment Group is partnering with an award-winning supplier of licensed home textiles, bedding and homewares to recruit an ambitious Buying Administrator ready to move toward an Assistant Buyer/Assistant Category Manager role.

You will work closely with the buying team, managing critical paths, coordinating samples and supplier activity across a varied bedding portfolio while developing end-to-end product knowledge and taking on greater responsibility.

Qualifications

• Experience in Buying Administrator/Assistant or similar product-focused role in soft textiles/bedding or homeware.
• Background in licensed products is ideal.
• Keen to progress to Assistant Buyer or Assistant Category Manager.
• Strong knowledge of critical paths, product development and supplier coordination.
• Sample management experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage critical paths from initial product brief through to final launch.
• Coordinate samples, approvals, comments and product amendments.
• Liaise with suppliers and factories to ensure product development stays on track.
• Coordinate artwork, product specifications and sample requests.
• Maintain accurate product data and keep systems up to date.
• Support product set-up and launch readiness activities.
• Assist with the development of customer-exclusive and distributor ranges.
• Identify and escalate potential risks, delays or development issues.
• Work with internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth end-to-end product development across bedding ranges.

Skills

Buying administration

Buying assistant

Product development

Supplier coordination

Sample management

Job description

Assistant Buyer / Assistant Category Manager

Ready for the next step in your buying career? An award-winning supplier of licensed home textiles, bedding and homewares is looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Buying Administrator who is ready to take the next step in their career and develop towards an Assistant Buyer / Assistant Category Manager position. They supply some of the most well-known retailers, supermarkets and through marketplaces.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who has already gained experience within a buying or product development environment and is keen to broaden their commercial knowledge, take on greater responsibility and become more involved in the end-to-end product development process.

Working closely with the wider buying team, you will play an important role in managing the critical path and coordinating product development from initial brief through to launch, supporting an exciting and varied portfolio of bedding ranges.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing critical paths from initial product brief through to final launch.
• Coordinating samples, approvals, comments and product amendments.
• Liaising with suppliers and factories to ensure product development remains on track.
• Coordinating artwork, product specifications and sample requests.
• Maintaining accurate product data and ensuring systems are kept up to date.
• Supporting product set-up and launch readiness activities.
• Assisting with the development of customer-exclusive and distributor ranges.
• Identifying and escalating potential risks, delays or development issues where required.
• Working closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure the smooth running of the product development process across a broad portfolio of bedding ranges.

What we're looking for:

• Previous experience in a Buying Administrator, Buying Assistant or similar product-focused role within soft textiles/bedding or other homeware categories (essential).
• Licensed products background is ideal.
• Someone keen to progress their career into an Assistant Buyer or Assistant Category Manager position.
• A strong knowledge of critical paths, product development and supplier coordination.
• Sample management experience.

What's on offer:

• Hybrid working (3 days in the office) 2 at home
• Earlier finish on a Friday with flexible office-based hours
• Extra holidays
• Free parking
• Lots of career progression

You're currently working in Buying Administration and feel ready for more responsibility, greater involvement in product development and a clear opportunity to progress, we'd love to hear from you!