Assistant Buyer - Timber

Assistant Buyer - Timber

Permanent

Up to £45,000 + Hybrid Working (3 dyas per week in the office)

Southampton, Store Support Office

We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. 

Work with the Buyer to create and deliver an inspirational product range that meets the needs of our customers. Driving sales, margin (£GM & GM%)
and market share across all channels, delivering vendor contributions, rebate, and retail price index targets through strong vendor partnerships. Be responsible for the
performance of specific subcategories and the relevant vendor relationships.

• Work alongside the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets our customer needs,
  identifying opportunities and mitigating risk, whilst delivering against sales, margin, and market share targets
• Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range, through developing relationships with new
  and existing vendors, which reflect the category strategy
• Work alongside the Offer & Sourcing (O&S) team to shape and develop an own label proposition that meets the
  needs of our customers and market
• Support the buying process, with an awareness of impact on cross functional teams, allowing for flexibility adhering
  to a critical path, to ensure stock is ordered and delivered on time
• With the Buyer, support end to end vendor strategy management including contract and cost price negotiation,
  delivery of vendor contributions and annual performance review
• Gather insights to support the creation of the category pricing hierarchy in line with framework principles, supporting
  the Buying Assistant with inputs into the Minderest comparison tool
• With the category Merchandising team, support the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and
  optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews
• With the Visual Merchandising and Digital teams, support the creation and continuous improvement of customer
  journeys within our physical stores and online
• With the Buying Assistant, co-ordinate and execute the sampling process for range development, including QA and
  Lab set up requirements
• Work collaboratively with vendors, Marketing and Digital teams to support the acquisition and delivery of marketing
  assets for range and trading, including leading on brochures for the Category (where required)
• With the Buying Assistant, ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes, with accurate
  complete data
• Use support tools such as Yammer to share category information and respond to queries
• Conduct regular store (digital & physical), competitor and vendor visits, to increase understanding of the market and
  support the creation of the trading plan and inform decisions
• Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels, internally and externally, to support the delivery of
  KPIs
• Undertake other duties from time to time as may be reasonably required

Required Skills & Experience:
• Previous experience of sourcing and buying product ranges
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Ability to build relationships at all levels
• Attention to detail to assist with issue resolution and problem solving
• Experience of managing projects and holding stakeholders to account
• Commercial and financial awareness
• Flexible and adaptable
• Proactive
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint

As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes:

• Award-winning pension scheme
• ShareSave options
• 6.6 weeks holiday
• Payroll giving
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Shopping discounts
• Colleague wellbeing benefits
  …and much more.

Equality and Inclusion

We want to ensure that all employees, future employees, and applicants to all Kingfisher companies are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Find out more about us, including the benefits we offer and our community, sustainability, and inclusion projects at bandqcareers.com.

If you require any additional support or adjustments to help you make an application, please contact us at:

• ssorecruitment@b-and-q.co.uk
• recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk