Assistant Buyer

Dorking, Surrey

£26-28k DOE (neg for right experience)

Our client is an employee owned business who have 60 stores in the UK across the country. They are seeking an enthusiastic, resourceful and hardworking assistant buyer to join their buying team based at their HQ in Dorking.

They offer a hybrid working approach after completion of probation period with a work from home/office based split.

The ideal candidate would be a current Assistant Buyer or an experienced Buyer’s Assistant/Buying Administrator looking for the next step up.

An understanding of key buying processes is preferable (new line forms, range plans etc) as well as good excel capability, organisational and communication skills.

Reporting to the Senior Buyer, the assistant buyer is responsible for all administrative support for the buying team. They will also manage the dropship programme under the direction of the Senior Buyer.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Benefits include:

Holiday Allowance 22 days plus bank holidays rising to 25 days holiday after one full financial year

Up to 30% staff discount

Employee Owned Business - which means that the company is majority owned by a Trust on behalf of the employees (like John Lewis) so employees can benefit from a share in the profits/growth of the business.

After 3 months service

Bupa private healthcare

Life insurance x 3 annual salary

Onsite parking (not guaranteed depending on availability)

Key Responsibilities

Send and receive new line forms ensuring suppliers have provided sufficient and accurate product information and images/assets for web as required.
Send and receive ingredients form for consumables lines
Plot new line information on the range plans
Raise orders for new lines as required
Compile comp shop reports for the Head of UK Buying/Senior Buyer online & in person for key seasonal events & twice over Q4 Christmas trading season including price competitiveness
Regularly review social media to identify new trends
Under the direction of the Senior Buyer, manage the digital dropship range. Source new suppliers and new products in line with the dropship strategy. Negotiate the best terms and best costs for the category. Liaise with the e-commerce team to ensure products are kept up to date on the web and regularly review sales to identify and discontinue slow sellers.
Attend and report on trade shows as necessary
Update the Range Control Sheet on a Monday and copy across new lines to add to the web to the web additions sheet
Categorise new products for the web using the 'Gifting Categorisation’ sheet

Suppliers

Send and receive new supplier forms and supplier manuals, setting up new suppliers up with finance and noting agreed terms on domestic supplier terms sheet
Send out marketing contribution letters and agree terms on domestic supplier terms sheet
Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers
Liaise with suppliers with regards to any product quality (QC) issues identified by warehouse/stores/customers

Other Responsibilities

Management of sample room and sample sales (at least bi-annually)
Quarterly store visits and feedback to the buying team
Update the buying calendar as required