buyer

Over the past few years, our customers have spent more time at home than ever before. This is why it's more important than ever, that when our customers visit us they're able to find products to help them create a home they love.

Due to rapid team expansion, we are seeking 3 Buyers, covering multiple categories to join our team! This growth represents huge investment for Homebase so it's essential to us that we find the best people, who can help us make sure we're continuing to offer our customers the same exciting and unique products that they have come to expect to find when they visit us in-store, or online.

Ideally, you will already be working within the Buyer role, with experience within a similar category who can join the team and quickly make their mark: however, this is not essential as we are willing to consider Junior or Assistant Buyers depending upon the level of their experience and genuine interest within these categories.

In short: we want to meet with candidates who understand the buyer role but don't come with preconceptions about how things should be done: we want to meet with people who are excited about how they could be done.

Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday. (8am - 4pm/9am - 5pm)

Contract: Full-Time, Perm.

Location: Hybrid - 2 days office based, 3 days from home per week.

We operate a hybrid working policy which means you will be based out of our Milton Keynes Store Support Centre and you decide with your manager and team what works best for you and the role you do! If that means working from home, then work from home. If you prefer to work in an office, store, or distribution center, then you're welcome to work from there. All we ask is that if your manager or team needs you, you are available to come into Milton Keynes for meetings, check-ins, collaboration, and some fun. This may be more regularly during some of our busier, peak periods (up to 4 days per week on occasion, but you can expect to work from the office 1 to 2 days per week regularly).

Salary: £38,000 - £50000 (Depending Upon Experience)

The role

You will work with new and existing suppliers, identifying trends and shaping the future of our ranges. This is a highly targeted, challenging role but also one that we promise is incredibly rewarding. Ideally, we’re looking for someone with prior buying experience who can come in and make their mark straight away.

What will you be doing?

• Manage supplier performance, identifying potential new suppliers and building long-term supplier relationships
• Using insight tools to analyse and understand performance issues and opportunities, you will own your ranges and their performance against a known set of KPI’s and financial measures
• Conducting regular store/website visits and reviewing customer insight and trends, helping shape our future product and range requirements for our customers
• Helping to build and source customer/market insight-led ranges and product innovation
• Negotiating with suppliers to agree and deliver market-leading buy/sell plans for your areas aligned to the customer plan & category strategy
• Own the delivery of trade, promotions & event plans, striving to exceed KPIs, drive footfall, and forecast accurately
• Supporting the Supply Chain Plan, helping get our products into our Distribution Centres, Stores, and Customers' homes on time and in the best possible format
• Working with suppliers and the quality team to ensure product quality is achieved and maintained
• Working cross-functionally to ensure our proposition is appropriately serviced and presented to our customers
• Adhering to all Homebase policies, ensuring all agreements are recorded in writing, and reporting complaints to Legal within 48 hours of receipt
• Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence

What you need to be successful:

• We're looking for someone with experience in buying, with great new ideas and motivation to make their mark on what is a hugely important role for Homebase!
• Passionate about putting the customer at the heart of everything they do
• Excited about working in retail
• Influencing, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills
• Able to analyze data and have strong commercial acumen
• Can do attitude Interest in product development and trends

Benefits

What can we offer you in return?

Making your pay go further

• 20% team member discount for Homebase and Bathstore when shopping in-store and online, available from your very first day with us
• We’ll allow you to enhance your payment through our fantastic, discretionary bonus plan
• Our Hapi To Be Home well-being portal helps you save money on everything from your weekly food shop to a fun night out with friends and family
• Holiday starting from 24 days plus bank holidays, rising with service

Saving for your future and giving back to local communities

• Homebase Personal Pension Plan (with Life Assurance cover)
• An opportunity to get involved in fundraising events, helping to raise money for our charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support to fund home-related grants. These grants help keep those most in need safe and comfortable in their homes
• Our Payroll Giving Scheme makes it easy for you to make a regular donation to any registered charity close to your heart

Always growing together

• We'll offer you learning and development opportunities to give you the tools to do your job and there is also the opportunity to earn recognized qualifications from City and Guilds and to gain apprenticeship qualifications to enhance/develop you in your role or career with us
• Our monthly Lunch and Learn sessions will help you grow with talks from external and internal speakers

Sounds like a team you’d like to be part of? Click 'Apply’ now – we’d love to meet you!