Assistant Buyer

We’re looking to recruit an Assistant Buyer to join our retail team at the National Trust on a fixed-term basis. This is an exciting, yet challenging time to join as we prioritise our long-term commercial growth plans alongside ensuring our offer is competitive and matches current market trends.  

This is a fixed term contract due to end when the previous employee returns from maternity leave. At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it's unlikely to be more than 12 months. 

We're bigger than you think, we're more complicated than we appear and we're larger scale than you'd imagine. We've got passionate people in all our teams, and we've got so much more we want to achieve. We're for ever, for everyone and we really mean that. We don't want to stop at 5.5 million members, and we want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy access to our places, so we need to reach new audiences in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them without losing the hearts and minds of those that are already with us.  

Your contractual location will be our head office in Swindon and there’ll be an expectation for you to attend the office. However, there’s flexibility on where you’re based at other times. You’ll be required to work at a National Trust location for 40-60% of your working week. This’ll be discussed in more detail at interview. 

You'll work with the buyer to grow the Home, Garden and Plants business commercially and in new and innovative directions, identifying and developing new opportunities to meet budgets. You'll be responsible for creating ranges that link back to cause, engaging both the organisation and our supporters - and in turn extending the Trust’s reach and emotional connection to our audiences. 

You'll be a strong negotiator and will build solid relationships, internally especially with the merchandising team and externally with suppliers to achieve team KPIs. You’ll be an experienced assistant buyer with experience of and/or a passion for one or more of the product categories – Home, Garden and Plants.  

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role. But we’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Knowledge of the UK retail market and supply base for the relevant product areas.
• Experience and understanding of product design and manufacturing processes. 
• Experience of range building, product management and understanding of the drivers for customer satisfaction, repeat business, spend, margins and profitability.
• Knowledge of buying planning systems. 
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and communication skills. 
• Experience in ensuring policies, frameworks and standards are fully implemented.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.