Buying Assistant - Outdoor

B&Q plc; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A home improvement retailer in Southampton is seeking a Buying Assistant to empower the buying team in curating an inspiring product range. Responsibilities include managing vendor data, executing promotions, and ensuring effective communication with stakeholders. Candidates should have strong administrative skills, an analytical mindset, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. This role offers a competitive salary with a generous benefits package including pension and holiday entitlement.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

BUPA healthcare

Employee Assistance Programme

6.6 weeks holiday

Qualifications

• Strong administrative skills to manage vendor queries and data.
• Effective communication skills for interaction with stakeholders.
• Proactive with a flexible approach to tasks and processes.

Responsibilities

• Empower the Buyer and Assistant Buyer in product range curation.
• Handle day-to-day vendor queries and manage contracts.
• Execute promotions and price changes as directed.

Skills

Strong administrative and organizational skills

Effective communication skills

Proactive and flexible approach

Analytical mindset

Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Buying Assistant12 Month FIxed Term ContractUp to £30,000 + Pension + BUPA + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working (3 days per week in the office)Southampton, Store Support OfficeWe believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they'll love. Join us as a Buying Assistant and you'll be a big part of this.What's the job?Empower the Buyer and Assistant Buyer in curating an awe-inspiring product range that delights our customers. Your role involves crafting and maintaining vendor and product data, executing competitive pricing and promotions, and ensuring that all channel requirements receive relevant information throughout the buying and merchandising journey. Additionally, you'll be a key player in maintaining product data throughout its lifecycle and supporting the sample process for range development.Key Responsibilities:Vendor Management:

• Handle day-to-day vendor queries, ensuring adherence to B&Q processes and policies.
• Collect accurate vendor data promptly and proactively address risks and issues.
• Analyze key vendor performance data, including turnover information.
• Assist in delivering vendor strategies, organizing meetings, and visits.
• Manage contracts, cost prices, and approval processes.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and reporting related to vendor contributions.
Product Data and Execution:
• Secure accurate customer-facing data and content across channels.
• Manage product data setup, progression, and archiving.
• Coordinate replacement link execution and category sampling for quality assurance.
• Execute promotions and price changes as directed by the Buyer and Assistant Buyer.
• Collaborate with the Strategic Pricing team for product/price comparisons.
Additional Responsibilities:
• Maintain buying tracker updates and communicate regularly with stakeholders.
• Utilize customer and market insights for presentations and business actions.
• Work alongside merchandising on projects, including range reviews and promotions.
• Provide general administration support to the buying team.
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn and develop within the commercial function.
  
  What we need:Key Experience: Strong administrative and organizational skills, including prioritization abilities.
• Effective communication skills for interacting with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Proactive and flexible approach, with initiative-taking abilities.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
  
  What's in it for me?As part of a great team, you'll be valued for who you are. We're committed to making B&Q more diverse and representative of the communities we serve, where everyone can feel they belong and have equal opportunities. You will have access to a range of networks that represent our colleagues and allies and help us to continue to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business.We also recognise that wellness means different things to different people, and we want to help colleagues be at their best and feel well by offering a range of benefits to help you. As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes an award-winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and lots more!So we can support you during the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] for any recruitment adjustments.