Buyer

The Candidate Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Candidate Ltd is seeking an experienced Buyer to join a growing retail business in Manchester. This role offers ownership of a product category, driving development, supplier relationships and commercial performance within a fast-paced retail environment.

You will collaborate with Merchandising, Product Development, Supply Chain and Ecommerce to deliver commercially successful ranges that meet customer demand while achieving business targets.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Buyer role within a retail or ecommerce business.
• Experience buying within a fast-paced product category.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing the product development process from concept to launch.
• Ability to analyse sales, margin and product performance data.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop commercial product ranges that balance core products, seasonal lines and new launches.
• Manage the product development process from concept through to launch.
• Oversee the product sampling and approval process, ensuring quality and specifications are met.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify new product opportunities.
• Deliver sales, margin and profitability targets across your category.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms with suppliers.
• Analyse sales performance and make recommendations to improve category performance.
• Support promotional planning and stock management decisions.
• Manage the critical path to ensure products are delivered on time.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Work with overseas suppliers and internal teams to resolve production and delivery issues.
• Collaborate with Ecommerce teams to ensure products are accurately represented online.
• Produce regular reports and category performance reviews.

Skills

Buyer experience

Retail/Ecommerce

Negotiation

Product development

Sales analysis

Stakeholder mgmt

Attention to detail

Excel

Time management

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Buyer to join their growing retail business. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded individual to take ownership of a product category, driving product development, supplier relationships and commercial performance within a fast-paced retail environment.

Working closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Supply Chain and Ecommerce teams, you will be responsible for developing commercially successful product ranges, managing suppliers and delivering products that meet customer demand while achieving business targets.

Responsibilities

• Develop commercial product ranges that balance core products, seasonal lines and new launches.
• Manage the product development process from concept through to launch.
• Oversee the product sampling and approval process, ensuring quality and specifications are met.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify new product opportunities.
• Deliver sales, margin and profitability targets across your category.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms with suppliers.
• Analyse sales performance and make recommendations to improve category performance.
• Support promotional planning and stock management decisions.
• Manage the critical path to ensure products are delivered on time.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Work with overseas suppliers and internal teams to resolve production and delivery issues.
• Collaborate with Ecommerce teams to ensure products are accurately represented online.
• Produce regular reports and category performance reviews.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a Buyer role within a retail or ecommerce business.
• Experience buying within a fast-paced product category.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing the product development process from concept to launch.
• Ability to analyse sales, margin and product performance data.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience working with overseas suppliers.
• Knowledge of Critical Path Management.
• Experience developing or growing a product category.
• Product knowledge within home, lifestyle or other consumer goods sectors.