Senior Buying Manager

LIDL; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 83,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading grocery retailer in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Buying Manager for their Fresh team. This pivotal role involves supplier negotiations, designing buying strategies, and collaboration with various partners. Candidates should possess a strong background in retail procurement, excellent analytical skills, and confidence in communication. The position offers a salary of £82,500 per annum along with additional benefits including a substantial discount and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

35 days' holiday (pro rata)

10% in-store discount

Pension scheme

Enhanced family leave

Sabbatical

Additional perks as per policies

Qualifications

• Senior Buying/Purchasing experience in retail food environment.
• Ability to make critical decisions under pressure.
• German language skills desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and hold supplier negotiations.
• Design innovative buying strategies and plan promotions.
• Build relationships with new and existing suppliers.
• Collaborate with internal and international partners.
• Lead categories from tasting samples to packaging design.
• Monitor market trends to stay ahead.
• Work with strategic partners to drive cost efficiency.
• Maintain market position.

Skills

Negotiating with suppliers

Strong numerical skills

Assertive communication

Collaborative attitude

Job description

A unique opportunity to join the heartbeat of Lidl's Purchasing team as a Senior Buying Manager within the Fresh team. You'll play a major role in influencing every aspect of the range of goods that we offer to our customers – from product selection to presentation, developing our supply base and continuing to drive our market‑leading position. You'll have strong commercial insight, analytical capabilities, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

At Lidl, we offer a hybrid working model – spend three days or more in our state‑of‑the‑art office where you can enjoy an on‑site gym, restaurant and other perks, and up to two days at home for the work/life balance.

What you’ll do

• Prepare and hold supplier negotiations with confidence and expertise.
• Design innovative buying strategies and plan product ranges and promotions.
• Build and nurture relationships with new and existing suppliers, ensuring successful supplier meetings.
• Collaborate with internal, external and international partners on a wide variety of topics.
• Lead your categories and assume responsibility and accountability for everything from the tasting of samples to the sign‑off of packaging design.
• Monitor the market and analyse trends to stay ahead of the curve.
• Work with strategic partners to drive cost out of long‑term supply agreements.
• Maintain and drive forward the company’s established position within the market.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience working as a Senior Buying/Purchasing expert in a retail food environment.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and securing the best deals.
• Experience presenting to senior stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Demonstrated positive and collaborative attitude within a team.
• Strong numerical skills to interpret and analyse complex data for strategic decisions.
• Assertive and confident communication skills.
• Ability to make critical decisions under pressure, balancing short‑term targets with long‑term strategic goals.
• German language skills desirable.

Salary: £82,500 per annum.

Compensation & Benefits

• £99,000 per annum (base salary)
• 35 days' holiday (pro rata)
• 10% in‑store discount
• Pension scheme
• Includes 10% non‑contractual London weighting allowance
• Enhanced family leave
• Sabbatical
• Additional perks as per Lidl policies.

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