Category Buyer

Halfords; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is seeking a Category Buyer to spearhead sourcing and procurement efforts. This pivotal role involves managing supplier relationships and driving category performance through data-driven analyses. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation skills, a background in category management, and a customer-focused approach to enhance purchasing performance. Join us for competitive salary benefits and a chance to grow in a dynamic retail environment with hybrid working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Annual discretionary bonus

Employee discounts

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Experience in multi-channel Buying or Category Management.
• Track record of delivering procurement benefits.
• Ability to use data-driven insights for purchasing performance.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with key suppliers.
• Negotiate for sourcing benefits and achieve profitability targets.
• Assess category performance using data-driven insights.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supplier relationship management

Data analysis

Category management

Leadership

Job description

About us

We’re evolving our Commercial team into a dynamic Category Management model that’s fully aligned with our Retail strategy. This transformation creates a future-ready function that blends strategic insight, customer focus, and stronger cross‑functional collaboration. Our approach empowers teams, sparks innovation, and drives data‑led decisions that deliver sustainable growth.

To bring this vision to life, we’re investing in our people – expanding capacity and nurturing talent across our Category teams. It’s an exciting time to join Halfords, where you’ll discover exceptional development opportunities and have the chance to make an immediate, meaningful impact. If you’re ready to help lead the way in an ever‑evolving retail landscape, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

Step into a pivotal role at the heart of our retail operation. As a Category Buyer, you’ll take full ownership of a key business area, steering sourcing and procurement activities that directly support category strategy and company profitability.

Working alongside the Head of Category, you’ll help shape an exceptional product range, deliver robust pricing frameworks, and ensure critical business KPIs are consistently met. This role is central to building and managing strategic supplier relationships, across UK partners, brands, and our global partners – ensuring our direct sourcing activities remain best in class while achieving strong net profitability for the category.

A role for a commercially sharp, influential, and relationship‑focused professional ready to make a meaningful impact in a fast‑moving retail environment.

Key responsibilities

• Build and manage strong, long‑term relationships with key suppliers to drive collaboration, competitive advantage, and industry‑leading ways of working.
• Deliver ongoing sourcing benefits through effective negotiation, securing promotional support, and achieving net profitability targets that fuel category performance.
• Identify and introduce new suppliers, explore alternative markets, and develop buying alliances that enhance the Halfords proposition.
• Regularly assess category performance, monitor KPIs, and apply data‑driven insights to make informed decisions that boost results.
• Develop and deliver category‑specific ESG initiatives, highlighting key opportunities and challenges while supporting broader organisational goals.
• Work collaboratively with teams such as eCommerce, Marketing, and Supply Chain to execute category priorities and ensure seamless delivery.
• Provide coaching and guidance to Assistant Buyers, equipping them with the support and resources needed to execute sourcing plans effectively.
• Drive cost‑of‑goods improvements through market analysis, tendering, supplier challenge, and the effective use of profitability models to secure the best commercial outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Category Manager and Own Brand Manager to build a world‑class own brand proposition, delivering ambitious targets while ensuring product quality, value, and brand principles are consistently upheld.

About you

• A highly motivated retail professional with strong multi‑channel Buying or Category Management experience, thriving in fast‑paced and dynamic environments.
• A confident, results‑driven negotiator with a proven track record of delivering procurement benefits and managing strategic supplier relationships. You will have experience in global sourcing and own‑brand development.
• A customer‑focused, data‑driven thinker who uses insight and analytics to enhance range propositions and improve purchasing performance.
• Commercially sharp and resilient, with the ability to plan effectively and manage competing priorities.
• A natural leader who can inspire, guide, and motivate both direct reports and cross‑functional colleagues to achieve shared goals.

Reward & benefits

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, car allowance, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
• We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.