Buying Manager

Jollyes; Epping Forest; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading pet retailer as a Buying Manager where you will lead product sourcing and category management. With competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in a caring and innovative environment. Jollyes has over 70 years of expertise and is recognized as a top employer in the retail industry.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Financial wellbeing package

Colleague discounts

Medical support services

Pet-ernity Day

Enhanced leave for birthdays and weddings

Cycle2Work scheme

Private Medical Insurance

25 days annual leave

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Experience in financial analysis and managing product categories.
• Strong skills in negotiating and sourcing for pet products.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and adapt to business needs.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product solutions for pet categories.
• Negotiate supplier contracts and manage performance reviews.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations for product safety.

Skills

Financial competency

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Negotiation skills

Team player

Problem-solving

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Buying Manager, Waltham Abbey, Essex (hybrid), £60,000 - £65,000p.a. + many more benefits.
Experienced in leading and influencing their team and other stakeholders, able to own the full end to end product solution for each category in our award-winning omnichannel pet specialist retail business.

The Benefits:
At Jollyes, we’re as passionate about our people as we are about our pets! We think our tail-wagging benefits package reflects our appreciation for all that our colleagues do and provides support where it’s needed most.

• Competitive salary of up to £60,000 - £65,000p.a. (depending on experience)
• iTrent financial wellbeing package, powered by Wagestream, enabling access to earnings before pay day plus lots more discounts and savings benefits.
• Colleague ‘Treats’ – numerous discounts on up to 800 high street retailers and online service providers from groceries to holidays and cinema trips
• Colleague ‘We Care’ wellbeing & medical support services – online GP, mental health support, get fit programme and much more
• 50% off Jollyes branded products (and 30% off other brands in store for your pet’s needs!)
• Pension scheme provided by Legal & General
• Free colleague uniform and on-site parking (uniform a requirement for in-store roles)
• Birthday leave – an additional day’s leave for your birthday*
• Pet-ernity Day – An additional day's paid leave to welcome your new dog or cat into the family*
• Wedding or Civil Partnership – An additional week’s paid leave*
• Enhanced Paternity leave – partners to receive 4 weeks full pay (or 2 weeks full pay under 2 yrs svc)*
• Enhanced Maternity leave – Full pay for first 26 weeks before reverting to SMP for 13 weeks. (or 6 weeks at full pay followed by 33 weeks at SMP if under 2 yrs service)*
• Discount nomination – to enable a 2nd person to receive your colleague discount (after 3m service)
• Lifetime colleague discount available to all colleagues after 20 years’ service
• Additional holiday entitlement for long service (from 5 yrs onwards)
• Buy/Sell holiday scheme – can purchase or sell up to 5 days provided it doesn’t take you below the minimum entitlement, and two ‘windows’ per year to activate.
• Cycle2Work scheme – up to 47% off a new bike & accessories via Halfords
• Retail Trust membership – counselling, wellbeing and financial support for the retail industry
• Care concierge supporting colleagues who are carers with access to information, services and benefits
• Alvie health coaching / cancer support (specialist nurses, physio’s, nutritionists, psychologists…)
• Discounted membership for David Lloyd Clubs - access to gym, pool, spa, classes, racquet sports, kids clubs and more
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Critical Illness & Life Assurance schemes
• Private Medical Insurance
• Enhanced company pension scheme

The Role:Buying Manager

This role sits within our Commercial team. Our Buying Manager will be an inspirational and influential leader,working cross-functionally with key business functions and stakeholders. Responsible for the financial performance, product and supplier selection of specified sections or categories across our pet range with measurement criteria across netsales, margin, market share, range proposition, stock holding, inbound service levels and quality returns / complaints.

A full job description is available on request, but to summarise your key responsibilities:

• Working closely with your merchandising colleagues to own the full end to end product solution for each category from sourcing, ranging, service, store, online presentation through to exit.
• Build effective communications for retail teams to share the rationale and details of new product launches
• Source new supplier opportunities and supply routes, presenting range and propositions to the Trading Director
• Successful supplier negotiations to achieve the best price point for our customers with regular review of market pricing and keeping abreast of competitor activity, market trends and insights.
• Supplier performance reviews against KPIs and managing any issues
• Creating category strategies, defining the range and associated margins, sharing category insights to the wider business.
• Working with L&D Manager to ensure colleague training for all new product launches and existing ranges
• Working with the Technical Manager to ensure we’re safe and legal at all times, supporting industry regulation and compliance across all product ranges, carrying out due diligence checks as needed.

The Skills – Buying Manager

To be successful in this role, you’ll need the following skills, experience and qualities:

• Financially competent and able to demonstrate strong numerical skills including interpretation of data
• Organised with evidence of horizon planning, critical path management and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Analytical with experience of excel and power point.
• Experience of FOB sourcing and negotiating (relating to ‘pet’ accounts)
• Solution orientated, not letting challenges become barriers with a self-driven, proactive approach
• Challenges the ‘norm’ creating alternative plans and thinking with an owner mindset.
• Adaptable and can adjust approach to suit business needs regardless of scale or company hierarchy
• An animal lover whether an owner or just a pet friend
• Demonstrates integrity and diligence – will do the right thing when nobody is watching
• Team player who works collaboratively and respects the needs of the team
• Respectful of diversity, creates a environment which recognises and respects individuality
• Share our values of being: Wise, Focused, Genuine, Eager, Together

About Jollyes – The Pet People

Jollyes are an award-winning UK pet retailer with over 100 stores and over 70 years of pet expertise between our paws. Winners of the Pet Industry Federation ‘Best Pet Retailer 2023’, Retail Week award for ‘Best Retailer 2024’ (under £250m t/o), and listed in the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work’ you really can be sure you’re joining a great brand and employer, trusted by our customers and our colleagues. And with our accreditation to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, we're friendly to pets people and the planet too!

To Apply:

If you’re looking for a career with an award-winning company who will truly value you and recognize your contribution with some fantastic rewards and benefits, where you can really make a difference, click to apply today!

Respectfully, no agencies please