Buyer - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Whole Foods Market; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Whole Benefits programme

Store discount

Paid time off

Health & wellness programs

Job summary

Whole Foods Market is seeking a Procurement professional to source products from regional vendors, balance cost with quality, and strengthen supplier relationships. The role involves developing local category strategies, collaborating with local growers, and translating assortment plans into store-level merchandising.

You will participate in regional promotional planning, assist with pricing strategies, and analyze regional performance trends to drive savings and quality in a dynamic

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree with 2-4 years relevant procurement experience.
• Ability to evaluate suppliers and negotiate terms.
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides regional input to Category Manager on category strategy and regional trends.
• Develops and executes category assortment plan including supplier reviews and forecasting.
• Develops local category strategies within the broader category context.
• Identifies and nurtures relationships with local suppliers.
• Collaborates with Foragers to source local items and serve regional growers.
• Translates regional assortment plan into store merchandising plans and planograms.
• Manages promotional planning for region-only items and reacts to sales performance.
• Assists with pricing strategy recommendations.
• Analyzes region-only items and performance trends.
• Identifies regional items with expansion potential.
• Partners with support teams for region-only execution.
• Coordinates with Product Coordinator for timely store communications.
• Works with Regional Marketing on promotions.

Skills

Procurement concepts

Supplier evaluation

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Interpersonal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Data interpretation

Customer-focused

Education

BA/BS degree + 2-4 years relevant experience

Job description

Responsible for procuring product from vendors at the lowest cost consistent with considerations of quality, reliability of source, and urgency of need. Studies market trends, interviews vendors, and recommends sources of supply. Works with various internal business and external partners to streamline how Whole Foods Market sources and transacts these items, focusing on partnership, transparency, integrity, and ease of procurement. Responsible for compiling promotions and communicating quantities to vendors, documenting accurate costs on POs, and implementing new item process. Works directly with suppliers to source products, strengthen overall product mix and expand product program.

Responsibilities:

• Provides regional input to Category Manager on category strategy, including regional customer and product trends and the competitive landscape.
• Develops and executes category assortment plan, including supplier line reviews, assortment analysis, item planning and forecasting.
• Develops local category strategies within the context of the broader category strategy.
• Networks constantly to identify and nurture relationships with local suppliers.
• Collaborates with Foragers to source potential new local items / suppliers and serve as resource / advisor for local growers and producers.
• Partners with Space Management to translate regional assortment plan into a merchandising plan and store-level planograms.
• Develops and executes category promotional planning for region-only items, including planning and executing key promotional events and reacting in-season based on sales performance and the competitive landscape.
• Assists with and/or provides pricing strategy recommendations.
• Conducts ongoing analysis of region-only items and performance trends.
• Identifies region-only items with potential for expansion into other regions.
• Partners with support teams to ensure region-only execution.
• Partners with Product Coordinator to ensure effective and timely store communication regarding assortment, planogram, promotions, etc.
• Partners with Regional Marketing on marketing and promotional events.

Skills:

• Understands and applies buyer / procurement concepts, principles and practices.
• Able to evaluate and certify suppliers and producers.
• Develops and applies buying / procurement practices that meet company and customer expectations, ensure quality and maximize savings and efficiencies.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills and high levels of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
• Tailors communication approach to specific situations and audiences.
• Able to negotiate mutually beneficial supplier / producer arrangements, terms and conditions.
• Applies analytical skills to evaluate and interpret purchasing, procurement, contract, delivery, quality, pricing and other issues.
• Creates spreadsheets, charts and reports that contain relevant projections and performance data that can be clearly understood by diverse audiences.
• Possesses clear understanding of WFM’s and supported region / stores business objectives.
• Has passion for Organics, Fair Trade and the Natural Foods industry.
• Applies a customer-focused sensibility when analyzing business prospects and / or performing ongoing work activities.
• Understands the WFM product mix, supply base and retail operations.
• Team-player with a positive attitude and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Works effectively with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.
• Adheres to the WFM principles and core values.
• Displays strong levels of customer service.

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree and 2-4 years’ relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended any time at the sole discretion of Whole Foods Market. The appropriate country or jurisdictional laws, processes, professional or regulatory bodies, and qualifications apply outside of the United States.

The wage range for this position is £41,600.00-£56,160.00 Annual, commensurate with experience.

Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits". Whole Benefits offers a wide range of benefits for Full and Part-Time Team Members, including eligibility for a store discount, paid time off, financial wellness, health & wellness support programs, and access to other Team Member perks.

Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined under the terms of the applicable Whole Benefits plan at a person’s date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (such as regular or seasonal).

https://careers.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk/benefits.