Junior Buyer - Snacks & Gifting

Majestic Wine; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UK’s wine retail sector is seeking a Junior Buyer to join their dynamic Buying Team. This role encompasses sourcing products, negotiating with suppliers, and understanding customer needs to enhance the product range. The ideal candidate will have retail experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a passion for wine.

Benefits

Competitive salary & performance related bonus

Up to 20% Staff Discount

29 days holiday plus holiday purchase scheme

Life Assurance

Contributory Company Pension Plan

Career development opportunities

Free parking with electric charging points

Access to Retail Trust benefits

Company maternity, paternity & adoption leave

Company sick pay scheme

Qualifications

• 3 years’ experience in Retail/Grocery industry required.
• Commercially focused and a passion for wine.
• Experience in Buying Beer, Spirits, and Snacks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support Buyers in delivering product ranges for retail and online.
• Negotiate pricing and manage supplier relationships.
• Work collaboratively to maximize range performance.

Skills

Negotiating skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Relationship management

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Junior Buyer in our Proposition Development category (Snacks and Gifts), to join our Award Winning Buying Team in a dynamic and competitive market.

Do you have a real can do attitude able to overcome challenges, think outside the box and find solutions in order to succeed?

If you have answered yes to these questions, then Majestic would be delighted to hear from you!

Who are we?

Majestic is the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, operating a network of over 200 stores nationwide. Founded in 1980, the company recently passed back into private ownership following the acquisition of Fortress Investment Group and has undergone an ambitious transformation and turnaround programme. The results of which are now being seen, with record market share growth, a new and improved product range, a new website and new stores - with a pipeline for future expansion over the next five years. With no minimum purchase, the Majestic range includes over 1,100 different wines, spirits and beers both online and in-store. Majestic’s key strength is over 1,000 WSET-trained colleagues offering knowledgeable, friendly service across all channels.

Job Specifics:

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Location: Watford Support Centre*

*We are proud to offer a new Agile Working Policy for Support Centre colleagues; a blend of office and home working which will include 3 days working at the Majestic Office

Role Purpose

Our Junior Buyers are responsible for supporting our Buyers and delivering an industry leading range of products to both our store and online customers. Through their excellent knowledge of our customer requirements they build both product ranges and services that provide us with a clear differentiation from any competitors and grow our sales, market share and brand strength. You’ll support to ensure we have the right products at the right time, using your influencing and negotiating skills to build and manage relationships across our business and with suppliers.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Work with the Proposition Development Buying Manager to source products for our Retail and Commercial proposition (core categories: beer, spirits, snacks, sundries and gifting)
• Negotiate pricing and promotional support with suppliers
• Create, with Merchandising, the Product Plans for Majestic Wine (Commercial, Retail etc.)
• Negotiate Commercial & Retail lines directly with suppliers as appropriate
• Work collaboratively with the Commercial and Store teams to maximise range performance
• Take ownership of selling the ranges into the business, using established communication channels to engage with other teams & store colleagues
• Deliver the Financial KPI’s set out by the business
• Setting up SKUs and Suppliers, adding detail to line level detail documents for new SKUs and updating SKU or Supplier information as required
• Working closing with the Buying Administrators to maintain the tidiness and organisation of the Tasting Room
• Proof-reading marketing materials to ensure accurate grammar & product information i.e. price, vintage, ABV
• Assist with sample management - liaise with suppliers to request samples for tasting and photography, tracking of inbound samples, general sample organisation, arranging for meetings and sign-offs.
• Work as part of the wider Buying team to support all product categories during busy trading periods
• Additional ad-hoc tasks

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• The Ideal candidate will have 3 years’ experience working within Retail/Grocery industry
• Commercially focused/strong negotiating skills
• Has a passion for wine
• Experience Buying Beer and/or Spirits and/or Snacks Ambient Grocery
• Able and willing to undertake international travel
• Highly organised, with a proven track record of prioritising workload to meet deadlines
• Highly numerate and able to process complex commercial scenarios quickly
• Able to influence and develop true ‘partnership’ relationships quickly and effectively
• Confident presentation and communication skills
• Empathetic and flexible in style- able to accommodate differing styles and attitudes and adjust approach
• Willingness to get stuck in, being flexible and open to change
• Knowledge of the Majestic range in wine, beer, spirits, and snacks is desirable

What's in it for you:

• A competitive salary & performance related bonus
• Up to 20% Staff Discount
• 29 days holiday, including public and bank holidays and we also have a Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Life Assurance
• A contributory Company Pension Plan
• Career development opportunities - we are passionate about nurturing our internal talent, offering career progression supported by our excellent in-house training schemes!
• Free parking on site with electric charging points
• Access to Retail Trust which includes: Retail Rewards including Instant savings with discounted e-vouchers, discounted reloadable shopping cards, gift vouchers and gift cards, Discounts of up to 30%, Access to free counselling and support phone line
• Company maternity, paternity and adoption leave after 26 weeks Long service rewards
• Company sick pay scheme

We look forward to receiving your application! Together we are Majestic! #TWAM

On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.