Buyer

MacGregor Black; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading consumer retail business to recruit a Buyer. You will manage a supplier portfolio across select categories, sourcing from UK and international suppliers, and develop joint sourcing strategies with fellow Buyers.

The role requires proven range and sourcing program experience, strong forecasting ability, and the skill to negotiate and communicate with senior stakeholders. Contact: Lewis Millican.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of range and sourcing program development for retail buying.
• Ability to meet monthly targets with urgency.
• Forecasting experience is essential.
• Strong analytical, planning and negotiating skills.
• Experience presenting to key suppliers.
• Experience planning, sourcing/buying in Retail and Online channels.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in business preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and achieve cost, margin and profit goals for the assigned categories.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies and programs aligned with company objectives, including with Marketing for ranges and promotions.
• Clear, effective communication with internal teams and senior management.
• Maintain relationships with assigned suppliers through supplier visits, trade shows, events and conferences.
• Provide category information to train regional personnel and sales representatives.
• Support corporate production and supply management to resolve supplier issues (product availability, quality, distribution, and sales/marketing).
• Understand and perform gap analysis and product range reviews.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Forecasting

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Supplier relationship management

Communication

Retail buying

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Are you ready to take ownership of major supplier relationships and drive profitable category growth?

Do you thrive on building commercial relationships, negotiating complex agreements and turning category strategies into results?

Can you combine strong forecasting, category insight and commercial acumen to unlock new opportunities across a fast-moving supplier base?

MacGregor Black are partnering with a leading consumer retail business on the search for a Buyer.

Manage the business's supplier portfolio across a select range of categories, sourcing from UK and international suppliers, manufacturers and distributors, plus identifying new supply opportunities. They will need to manage all aspects of the relationship from a commercial, quality and service perspective for the assigned categories, this should be done in collaboration with the other Buyers to jointly establish consistent, well-defined sourcing strategies and leadership in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and achieve cost, margin and profit goals for the assigned categories.
• Develop and execute appropriate sourcing strategies and programs which support company objectives. This includes jointly developing with the Marketing Department range and promotional programs.
• Communication: Clear, effective communication with internal teams and senior management.
• Establish and maintain relationships with assigned suppliers through supplier visits, trade shows, events and conferences.
• Provide category information related to assigned suppliers from which effective training and instruction is developed for regional personnel and sales representatives.
• Buyer to provide the necessary support and/or analysis to corporate production and supply management to resolve supplier issues involving product availability, quality, distribution, and/or sales and marketing administration.
• Understand and perform gap analysis and product range reviews.
• Perform other duties as required.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience of range and sourcing program development for retail buying, including evidence of having solved sourcing, merchandising, supply service, distribution and related problems.
• Results Orientation: Driven to achieve and exceed monthly targets with urgency.
• Forecasting experience is essential.
• Evidence of good analytical, planning and negotiating skills.
• Experience making effective verbal and written presentations to key suppliers.
• Use of PC basics: word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
• Experience planning, sourcing/buying, and managing supply in Retail and Online channels.
• Prefer business education at bachelor's or Master's level.

For more information, please contact Lewis Millican