Head of Buying

Quest Search and Selection Ltd; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail eCommerce platform is seeking a Head of Buying to drive strategic initiatives within their expanding team. This role demands a seasoned professional with a strong background in category management, leadership, and team collaboration to optimize product availability and enhance operational productivity.

Benefits

15% discretionary bonus

Share options

Central London office location

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years in a Category/Buying role.
• Experience in leading transformation projects is highly desirable.
• Managed P&L responsibilities with a turnover of £40-80 million.

Responsibilities

• Lead and structure a team of Category Managers.
• Oversee projects related to new transformation systems.
• Negotiate deals with suppliers and regional partners.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Quest Search & Selection is currently seeking a Head of Buying to lead a team of Category Managers for a Food/FMCG retailer.

The company is a leading retail eCommerce platform specializing in consumer goods and food delivery, offering a wide range of products including household essentials, medication, pet care, office supplies, beauty, groceries, and fresh prepared food. This global business is experiencing growth and is looking for an individual with proven leadership and category management experience, an analytical mindset, and the ability to deliver results through their team in a scalable, tech-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities of the Head of Buying - Food/FMCG

• Lead and structure a team of Category Managers, formulating and implementing strategic processes.
• Oversee projects related to new transformation systems and automation to enhance productivity.
• Monitor competitive pricing and adjust pricing policies accordingly.
• Manage relationships with key accounts, ensuring compliance with pricing, promotions, and service standards.
• Negotiate deals with suppliers and regional partners.
• Provide customer insights to optimize algorithmic buying decisions and product availability.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and senior leadership on in-app merchandising and alignment with brand value.
• Identify deviations from expectations and develop hypotheses for validation.

Key Requirements of the Head of Buying - Food/FMCG

• Minimum of 7 years in a Category/Buying role, preferably in supermarkets, convenience stores, FMCG, or eCommerce food.
• Experience leading teams while remaining hands-on in strategy and decision-making.
• Experience leading transformation projects in similar environments is highly desirable.
• Background in early-stage start-ups/scaling companies or established eCommerce/retail FMCG sectors.
• Data-savvy with strong analytical skills to underpin decision-making.
• A builder mindset, proactive and strategic.
• Managed P&L responsibilities with a turnover of £40-80 million.
• Proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office.

Benefits for the Director of Buying & Supply Chain

• Based at the central London head office, with an expectation of 3-4 days in the office per week.
• 15% discretionary bonus.
• Share options.
• Part of a rapidly growing global business.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to lead an entrepreneurial team within a dynamic business environment. If interested, please apply with your CV, quoting reference No. JO-56. Candidates are requested to submit their CV as a Microsoft Word document where possible.

Quest Search and Selection is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy.