Buying Assistant - Levy Merchandising

Levy Uk + Ireland; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading merchandising firm in Manchester is seeking a Buying Assistant to support their team in managing product ranges. This role includes responsibilities like product selection, supplier communication, and market research. Ideal candidates have previous buying experience and strong analytical skills, ready to thrive in a dynamic environment. The company offers a competitive salary, extensive benefits including 31 days of holiday, and a culture that fosters inclusion and diversity.

Benefits

31 days holiday including bank holidays

Pension scheme

Colleague health cash plan

Life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary

Employee assistance programme

Discounts on products and services

Enhanced family leave and pay

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buying Manager with product selection and range planning.
• Assist in sourcing product and managing stock positions.
• Conduct competitor and market research to support buying decisions.

Skills

Buying administration

Negotiation

Analytical mindset

Relationship management

Numerical skills

Proactive problem-solver

Education

Experience in buying, merchandising, or a similar role

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We're looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Buying Assistant to join growing team and help support our Buying team in the day-to-day management of product ranges. You'll play a key role in ensuring the smooth execution of buying processes: supporting range planning, product sourcing, supplier communication, and administrative tasks to help deliver commercially successful product ranges for our partners. Our Buying team works across multiple partners, many of whom are huge brands in the sports and entertainment industry, so we're looking for someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. This role would be perfect for someone with a strong foundation in buying administration who is ready to take on more ownership of the buying process and supplier relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buying Manager with product selection, range planning and seasonal buy preparation
• Support with sourcing product and placing any relevant buys and re-buys
• Assist in the development and execution of the buying strategy
• Manage the sampling process, product approvals, and range reviews
• Assist with managing the stock position across various product lines
• Conduct competitor and market research to support buying decisions
• Assist with purchase order creation, tracking, and maintenance
• Liaise with suppliers regarding orders, deliveries, pricing, and product information
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers as well as internal stakeholders
• Maintain accurate product, pricing, and supplier data within internal systems
• Ensure suppliers deliver on time and resolve any supply issues
• Suggest re-buys where appropriate or markdowns in the case of poorly performing products
• Manage size splits and delivery drops utilising available data and taking consideration of stock levels and cash flow
• Attend trade events, fairs and exhibitions to stay updated on market trends

Qualifications

• Previous experience in buying, merchandising, or a similar role
• Understanding of the sports/events business, buying seasons and product categories
• Commercially aware with a strong interest in retail
• Strong numerical skills and analytical mindset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• A proactive problem-solver, who can remain flexible and agile when priorities shift
• A team player, supporting and collaborating with other team members
• Proactive and entrepreneurial in decision making
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills

Benefits

• competitive salary
• 31 days holiday including bank holidays (pro rata, rising with service)
• pension scheme
• colleague health cash plan
• life assurance cover of 4 x annual salary
• employee assistance programme - 24/7 confidential access to expert services including counselling, wellbeing, and independent legal and financial advice
• discounts on SUDU and other Levy Merchandising products and services
• enhanced family leave and pay
• welcoming company culture and opportunities to develop as our business grows
• opportunities to be a part of and involved in our colleague networks

About the Company

Levy Merchandising is the merchandising arm of Levy UK & Ireland. Levy UK & Ireland are a market leader in the world of sports and entertainment experiences, boasting some of the biggest and best stadiums and leisure locations in Europe as its venue partners. These include Ajax's Johan Cruyff Arena, the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, The O2 Arena, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the National Theatre to name just a few. Levy is part of FTSE 100 company and global leader in food services, Compass Group PLC. At Levy Merchandising, we design and manufacture a wide range of product direct from source. From technical products, fit for the highest level of performance, through to non-technical fanwear, we produce apparel at all levels of the product pyramid. We also source a comprehensive range of non-clothing products to complete the full range of categories available across the sales channels. We’re proud to do things differently. We have an innovative commercial model which puts our partners first and makes decision making a joint responsibility. Building long‑lasting, sustainable relationships is central to our ethos and we want our partners to feel like they retain independence and control on key strategic direction whilst being able to leverage the benefit, scale, and expertise of our central teams across Buying, Licensing, E‑Commerce, and Retail Operations. Our partners include Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Team GB, Aston Martin and McLaren F1. We’re also committed to supporting the local communities where our factories are based. We work with charities and local outreach programmes to have a positive impact in the cities and towns where we do business. SUDU is our UK sportswear brand headquartered in Manchester. With aspirations to be a leading brand that not only equips individuals with the tools they need to excel in physical pursuits but also to empower mindsets with every motion. Our ‘Run’ collection features 17 products across footwear and apparel.

Building an inclusive work environment: We’re actively building diverse teams, and we welcome applications from everyone. We take pride in fostering a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. We believe that our differences are our greatest strength, and we’re committed to creating an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we’ll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.