Lead Buyer

English Heritage; London; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking charity dedicated to preserving England's heritage as a Lead Buyer. This full-time role offers the chance to shape the retail strategy across numerous sites and an online shop, ensuring that the rich history and ethos of English Heritage are reflected in the product range. With a focus on collaboration, creativity, and commercial success, you'll lead a dynamic team while enjoying a range of benefits including flexible hours, generous holiday, and professional development opportunities. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the heritage sector while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Benefits

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Matched pension contributions up to 10%

Flexible hours

Free access to all English Heritage sites

25% discount in shops and cafes

Enhanced parental leave

Options to buy additional leave

Inclusive working atmosphere

Opportunities to attend live events

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering against Buying KPIs and targets.
• Experience managing a buying team and working with merchandising.

Responsibilities

• Develop the strategic vision for English Heritage Retail.
• Lead a team of five buyers in implementing the retail vision.

Skills

Buying KPIs

Team Management

Product Development

Creative Sourcing

Education

Experience in Retail Buying

Experience with Designers and Illustrators

Job description

Lead Buyer

Location: Based at either our London, Swindon, one of our Regional Offices or Homeworker.
Salary: £39,855 - £43,087 per annum (depending on location) 36 hours per week/ permanent
Job type: Permanent
Ref: 15976

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

We are looking for a Lead Buyer to join our team. The role is full-time and permanent, working 36 hours per week.

The Benefits

- Salary from £39,855, depending on skills, experience and location

- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years

- Matched pension contributions up to 10%

- Flexible hours

- The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector

- Subscriptions to professional bodies

- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members

- 25% discount in our shops and cafes

- Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave

- Options to buy additional leave

- An inclusive working atmosphere everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs

- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events

This is a great opportunity for someone experienced in buying across a multi-site commercial/retail operation, including managing high SKU counts and complex product ranging.

You will be based at either our London or Swindon offices, one of our Regional Offices or be a Homeworker. You will work with colleagues across the organisation and support the Retail leadership team in the delivery of the Retail strategy. Travel to sites, offices and the retail warehouse will be required.

As Lead Buyer, you will develop the strategic vision for English Heritage Retail, both in our site shops (c80 shops) and our online shop. You will lead your team of five buyers in implementing this vision.

Working closely with the Lead Merchandiser, you will manage and plan the retail critical path and associated meeting schedule. You will also collaborate with site and operations teams to ensure seamless communication on new range launches and changes.

You will also take a creative and commercial approach to sourcing, buying, and product development, ensuring that the English Heritage retail brand ethos, site history and the stories within this are integral to the product range while meeting margin and profit targets.

To be considered as a Lead Buyer, you'll need:

- A proven track record of delivering against Buying KPIs and targets (e.g., margin, profit, sales, SKU count).

- Experience of managing a buying team and working with a merchandising team.

- Experience of product development and the ability to work with Designers and Illustrators.

First interviews will be held on the 21st May on Microsoft Teams. Second interviews will be held w/c 26th May at the English Heritage London office.

If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Stephanie Walker. No agencies please.

Find out more about us and what we do on our website. You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

Closing date: 14/05/2025 23:59:59