Commercial Buying Analyst

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based retail cooperative in Manchester is seeking a Commercial Buying Analyst to analyze data and provide actionable insights for supplier relationships and product performance. This hybrid role requires strong analytical skills and advanced Excel capabilities. The ideal candidate will influence commercial decisions through data-driven insights in a fast-paced environment, and the position offers benefits such as an annual bonus, holiday entitlement, and career development support.

Benefits

Annual bonus based on performance

28 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Pension with up to 10% employer contribution

Subsidised onsite gym access

Coaching and training for career development

Access to Wagestream app for early pay

Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills to interpret data effectively.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability with large datasets.
• Strong communication skills to influence decisions.

Responsibilities

• Translate data into actionable insights driving commercial value.
• Own analysis for category, generating insights for decisions.
• Evaluate supplier cost increases using data points.

Skills

Analytical skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Strong communication skills

Insight platforms experience

Interest in market dynamics

Time management

Job description

Commercial Buying Analyst
£45,000 to £55,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)

Manchester City Centre, in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home, visiting suppliers and coming into the office at least two to three times a week

We’re looking for commercially minded, data‑driven Analysts to join Co‑op and help shape the future of our Commercial business.

This is a brilliant opportunity to use your analytical skills to influence commercial decisions, and build strong supplier relationships. You’ll turn complex data into clear insights that help our Senior Buying Managers secure the best value for our customers and member‑owners, while driving commercial success across our categories.

Why this job matters

As part of our Commercial team, you’ll be at the forefront of supplier and product performance analysis. Your insights will help us understand cost pressures, evaluate supplier proposals, and make informed recommendations about what goes on our shelves. You’ll also bring external market analysis into the mix, benchmarking against competitors, identifying emerging trends, and helping us stay ahead of the curve. This is a chance to make a real impact in a fast‑paced, purpose‑led business, where your work directly supports customer satisfaction and commercial growth.

What you’ll do

• Translate data into actionable insights that drive commercial value for Co‑op, our customers, and member‑owners
• Own analysis for a category, increasing our capability to generate insight and make data‑led decisions
• Evaluate supplier cost increase submissions, using multiple data points to assess impact and value
• Analyse supplier performance across key metrics to inform commercial partnerships
• Create ad‑hoc reports that help your team understand market dynamics and identify opportunities
• Collaborate with suppliers to bring external data and market insight into our decision‑making
• Conduct external market analysis to benchmark pricing, identify trends, and understand competitor activity
• Represent Co‑op in supplier conversations, ensuring our policies and regulatory obligations are upheld

This role would suit people who have

• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret and present data in a commercially meaningful way
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability with experience managing large datasets, and the ability to learn and master new reporting systems
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to use data to tell compelling stories and influence decisions
• Experience using insight platforms to generate pricing and performance insights
• A keen interest in market dynamics and competitor analysis
• Great time‑management skills and the ability to prioritise in a fast‑moving commercial environment

Why Co‑op?

At Co‑op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Wagestream app – giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn

Building a diverse environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We’re also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we’ll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We’ll ask whether you’d like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

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.

You can find out more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply‑process

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme at Disability Confident Scheme - Co‑op Colleagues and more about our commitments to diversity and inclusion at Diversity and Inclusion

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you’ll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you’re a current Co‑op colleague, this does not need to be completed.