Senior Category Buyer

Halfords Group PLC; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is seeking a Senior Category Buyer to manage high-value categories, driving sourcing and procurement strategies. In this pivotal role, you will influence category strategy and manage supplier relationships across various brands. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in retail and demonstrated negotiation skills. The position offers competitive compensation, flexibility with hybrid working, and opportunities for significant professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Annual bonus scheme

Pension

Life assurance

Employee discounts

Wellbeing resources

Enhanced family leave

Qualifications

• Substantial Buying or Category Management experience in a retail environment.
• Proven negotiation skills with high-impact outcomes.
• Experience in managing complex supplier portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of sourcing strategies for high-value categories.
• Build influential supplier relationships to drive innovation.
• Identify new global sourcing opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Supplier relationship management

Global sourcing

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Job description

Apply now Job no: 562643
Work type: Full time
Site: Redditch
Categories: Buying
Location: Worcestershire
Salary: Competitive
Business Area: Halfords Support Centre

About us

We’re evolving our Commercial team into a dynamic Category Management model that’s fully aligned with our Retail strategy. This transformation creates a future‑ready function that blends strategic insight, customer focus, and stronger cross‑functional collaboration. Our approach empowers teams, sparks innovation, and drives data‑led decisions that deliver sustainable growth.

To bring this vision to life, we’re investing in our people – expanding capacity and nurturing talent across our Category teams. It’s an exciting time to join Halfords, where you’ll discover exceptional development opportunities and have the chance to make an immediate, meaningful impact. If you’re ready to help lead the way in an ever‑evolving retail landscape, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

As a Senior Category Buyer, you’ll own and lead a high‑value or strategically complex category, setting the direction for sourcing and procurement activities that underpin our commercial and strategic ambitions. You will be trusted to make significant decisions that drive category growth, profitability, and long‑term competitive advantage.

Partnering closely with the Head of Category, you’ll influence and shape the category strategy, create market‑leading ranges and guide long‑term planning. You’ll take the lead in managing high‑impact supplier relationships, across UK brands and global partners – ensuring our sourcing activity sets the benchmark for cost, quality, innovation, and sustainability.

This role is ideal for a commercially sharp, forward‑thinking senior professional who thrives on complexity, excels in strategic leadership, and is ready to play a pivotal role in Halfords’ commercial transformation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of sourcing strategies for a complex or high‑value category, driving long‑term commercial success and competitive advantage.
• Build and manage influential, senior‑level supplier relationships that unlock innovation, cost efficiency, and partnership‑led growth.
• Deliver substantial sourcing and profitability improvements through negotiation excellence, strategic supplier engagement, and rigorous commercial challenge.
• Identify new global sourcing opportunities and scalable supply solutions, proactively shaping the future direction of the category.
• Use advanced data and performance insight to inform strategic decisions, influence cross‑functional priorities, and elevate long‑term category results.
• Lead category‑specific ESG plans, ensuring sustainability, compliance, and responsible sourcing are embedded within all supplier partnerships.
• Drive high‑level cross‑functional collaboration with eCommerce, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, and Finance to deliver category ambitions at pace.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and development to Category Buyers and Assistant Category Buyers, raising capability and building a high‑performing team culture.
• Champion cost‑of‑goods improvements through continuous market review, tendering, supplier optimisation, and strategic profitability modelling.
• Guide the development of a market‑leading own brand proposition, driving innovation, quality, and value while supporting the delivery of ambitious commercial targets.

About you

• A highly experienced retail professional with substantial Buying or Category Management responsibility, ideally gained in large, multi‑channel retail environments.
• A confident and influential negotiator with a track record of securing high‑impact commercial outcomes, managing complex supplier portfolios, and delivering significant procurement benefits.
• Skilled in global sourcing, own‑brand development, and managing diverse supply chains across multiple geographies.
• A strategic and analytical thinker who leverages data, market insight, and performance trends to shape long‑term commercial direction.
• Commercially strong, resilient, and capable of managing complexity while delivering at pace in a fast‑moving environment.
• A proven leader who inspires teams, elevates capability, and influences colleagues at all levels to achieve shared goals.
• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, car allowance, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
• We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.

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