Buying & Merchandising Assistant - Seasonal

Dobbies Garden Centres; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading garden centre retailer in the UK is seeking a Buying & Merchandising Assistant to join their Seasonal team in Edinburgh. This role involves supporting the Buying team with product data management and maintaining relationships with suppliers. The position offers a hybrid working pattern, combining home and office work. Candidates should exhibit excellent organizational, communication, and team skills, along with strong computer literacy.

Benefits

33 days of annual leave

Generous store discounts

Enhanced Group Pension Plan

Funding for professional courses

Qualifications

• High level of computer literacy, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate company values: teamwork, improvement, and customer focus.

Responsibilities

• Critical path oversight to ensure delivery of team objectives.
• Managing and maintaining the sample library ensuring timely deliveries.
• Liaising with suppliers to resolve issues regarding purchase orders.

Skills

Computer literacy

Organizational skills

Team player

Problem-solving skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Buying & Merchandising Assistant to join our Seasonal team (Buying & Merchandising) based in our Central Support Office in Lasswade. Your role will be to support the Buying team, working closely with stores and suppliers. The role focuses on product data management, supplier liaison, sample management, maintaining the critical path for the Buying team, and general administrative tasks. Our Buying & Merchandising Assistant role offers a hybrid pattern of home working and working from our Central Support Office, with the option to work more frequently in the office if preferred.

Responsibilities

1. Critical path oversight to ensure delivery of team objectives
2. Managing and maintaining the sample library, ensuring samples are delivered and returned to suppliers on time for sign-off deadlines and key events (including press and marketing events)
3. Ensuring suppliers and all products are set up accurately on the systems
4. Liaising with suppliers to resolve issues regarding purchase orders, samples, delivery dates, and other ad hoc requests
5. Inputting key product information into the range plan and updating short codes and product attributes in back-office systems
6. Creating group purchase sheets and uploading them onto the intranet for store use
7. Creating Dobbies barcodes for products as required
8. Resolving scanning queries received from stores
9. Setting up promotions and assisting in preparing seasonal product catalogues
10. Providing analytical reports as needed

Who We Are Looking For

• High level of computer literacy, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail
• Strong team player
• Proactive and focused on accuracy
• Strong planning, prioritization, presentation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with tight deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across the business
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to demonstrate our values: being one team, continuous improvement, positivity, passion for gardens, and customer focus

What We Offer

• 33 days of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time)
• Generous uncapped store discounts, including 50% off in restaurants, 25% off in the Garden Centre, and 10% off in food halls
• Hybrid working model combining office and home working
• Enhanced Group Pension Plan
• Season ticket loans
• Access to Wagestream for financial wellbeing
• Support from Retail Trust including confidential support, virtual GP, and counselling
• Access to Dobbies Academy for development and eLearning
• Funding for professional courses and qualifications
• Free tea, coffee, and milk during the day
• Collaborative office space with wellbeing room and resources
• Invitations to annual conferences and social events

About Us

At Dobbies, we’re proud to have a history dating back to 1865. We are the only garden centre retailer with stores in every nation across the UK. Our passion for gardens and plants is what makes us unique, showcased through our own brand, branded products, concession partners, and services. We champion garden living all year round. Many stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, providing a relaxed environment for customers. We also host events and experiences that bring communities together and support a national charity partner. We’re committed to being a great place to work, encouraging colleagues to be their best every day, sharing wins, and celebrating success. Together, we make it work for our customers.