Books Buyer - 12 Month FTC

The Works Stores Ltd; Coleshill CP; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25% Colleague Discount

Holiday – 33 days incl bank holidays

Can-Do Academy

Stream wage access

Job summary

The Works Stores Ltd is seeking a Books Buyer to lead the books category, owning the full buying cycle from strategy to range planning. You will work with suppliers, ensure ethical compliance, and drive value through data-informed decisions.

As a Buying professional, you should have a proven track record in a similar sector, with the enthusiasm to influence decisions and deliver strong commercial results within a busy Commercial team. Hybrid working, with 1–2 days at Coleshill Support Centre.

Qualifications

• Experience in buying books or similar consumer categories.
• Proven ability to drive category strategy and manage supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Define range strategy and decide what goes into the book assortment.
• Collaborate with suppliers and ensure ethical compliance.
• Balance private label and branded products; manage product exits with a plan.
• Track development milestones and flag risks to delivery timelines.
• Lead negotiations on terms and funding with suppliers.
• Produce internal communications and sign‑off packs.
• Coach and develop junior team members and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Product development

Attention to detail

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Job description

Location

Hybrid: 1-2 days at our Support Centre in Coleshill, Birmingham.

Why The Works?

We don’t just sell products.

We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

The Works. It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone.

Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

Become a Books Buyer

As one of our dynamic Buyers, you’ll take charge of our books category, owning the entire buying cycle from start to finish. Playing a key role in our vibrant Commercial team, driving strategy, spotting new product trends and building fantastic ranges. You’ll collaborate with suppliers, ensure ethical compliance and react swift to sales trends to keep us ahead.

As one of our experienced Buying professionals, you will have a proven track record of success. Ideally in a similar sector or category with a natural desire to make impactful decisions and drive value!

Your Mission

• Strategy, decide what should be in our range and why, identifying the best sources and driving a competitive edge in the market. Test and trial new ideas for future growth based on market data.
• NPD Briefing, identifying new product trends and work with creative teams to deliver unique products that keep us ahead of the competition.
• Selection, build excellent product ranges, balancing private label and branded products, and manage product exits with a clear change plan.
• Critical Path Management, review development trackers and flag any risks to ensure smooth progress.
• Trade, articulate performance narratives, react to sales trends, and take action to maximise sales and minimize risk, including promotional activities and seasonal space management.
• Trackers and Analysis, keep all trackers up to date and suggest actions based on findings.
• Supplier and QA collaboration, ensure product specifications are met with ethical compliance.
• Negotiation, negotiate trading terms and funding support with suppliers.
• Internal Communications, collate and produce internal communications, presentations and sign-off packs.
• Coaching and Development, coach and develop junior team members, embodying what good looks like as a Buyer.
• Influencing Skills, understand your impact on others an develop influencing skills accordingly.
• Leadership, lead your product area with all internal stakeholders, guiding them through the full buying process and ensuring they have the information they need at each stage.
• Board Presentations, present to Board members for their sign-off, consistently completely all required sign-off packs.
• Additional Responsibilities, set budgets, engage in strategic sourcing, provide challenging feedback when necessary, and conduct store and web reviews, including working with a ‘buddy’ AM to understand operational issues.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Leadership skills: To manage a Junior Buyer / Buying Assistant
• Product Development: Sourcing experience across own label and brands/licenses
• Attention to Detail: You have a forensic attention to detail to help us get things right the first time passionate and able to analyse data. Highly organised, decision maker
• Colleague-Focused Approach: You prioritise making things easier for our colleagues, clearly explaining the why, how, what, and when
• Influence and Challenge: You can influence and constructively challenge when necessary to ensure we do the right thing
• Initiative and Passionate: You use your initiative and have the energy and passion to make things happen. Problem solving and innovative thinking
• Teamwork and Collaboration: You believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration as the best way to achieve results
• Networking and Relationships: You understand the importance of networking and building strong relationships and stakeholder management
• Negotiation Skills: Hone and flex style of approach
• Self-Starter: Committed to driving your own development, emotionally resilient and calm under pressure
• Microsoft Skills: Intermediate

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’

• 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more
• Family Friendly Leave - Enjoy some time well spent with enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• Stream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
• Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
• Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs
• And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play

Our Values

We are Crafty | Smart with what we've got.

We are Caring | Heart in every action.

We are Can-do | Energy that gets it done.

We Listen. We Care

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments

At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term).

We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!

The Works is the UK's leading specialist retailer of affordable, screen-free activities for the whole family, providing customers with fantastic value across four product categories: arts and crafts, stationery, toys and games, and books.

We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

Because when people spend time doing what they love, it’s Time Well Spent.

And with the right passion - It All Starts With You.