Senior Buyer

Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK’s leading pet care business; our commitment is to make sure pets and their owners get the very best advice, products and care. We have over 450 stores, over 310 Groom Rooms and 440 First Opinion Vet Practices. Our business is fast-paced, innovative and fun and it's our people that make the real difference. This is a fantastic opportunity to come and work for an award winning company who put people at the very heart of everything they do.

**About the role**

We’re looking for a Senior Buyer to work on a hybrid basis out of our Support Office in Handforth (Cheshire). National and international travel will also be required.

As a Senior Buyer, you’ll lead a highly dynamic team and have full responsibility for day-to-day sales and margin targets for one of our largest retail sales categories. You’ll be the lead contact for supplier relationships, negotiating and agreeing annual trading terms in line with targets.

This is a challenging role, you’ll be working at pace and ensuring that all voices are listened to and considered. You’ll need to be able to balance the priorities of your stakeholders and suppliers.

But you’ll be joining a supportive team and get a unique insight into how things work across functions. It’s an exciting opportunity that will really empower you.

Key responsibilities will include (but not limited to):

- Developing a category and supplier strategy that aligns with peers across the Commercial function
- Delivering a comprehensive trading and promotional plan approach to achieve the business plan targets. This includes managing the range both online and in store to ensure maximum customer relevance
- Ensuring key performance metrics relating to the overall category performance are measured closely and achieved. These metrics include sales, margin performance, market share, and achievement of terms targets
- Utilising all available data and insights to drive category development initiatives and innovation & newness to the category. Instigate new and additional insight activities where required
- Working closely with the Supply teams and supplier partners to optimise customer availability and manage overall stock level targets.
- Establishing close alignment with the Merchandising function to maximise in-store opportunities and drive strong return on in-store space
- Working closely with the Own Brand, Technical, New Product Development & Far East Sourcing teams to ensure we develop fantastic, consumer focussed Own Brand ranges and achieve our own brand sales, margin, and participation targets
- Achieving the underlying margin target for your category through supplier negotiations and an effective trading strategy
- Negotiating and achieving annual trading terms targets
- Managing the direct relationship with suppliers and partners that fall within the remit of your Trading Team
- Planning, executing and delivering trading terms negotiations to deliver underlying profit forecast
- Strong and visible leadership of the Category team, ensuring the required skills and processes are in place to deliver against business requirement and KPI’s
- Lead and developing your direct team and playing a leadership role across the broader Commercial function

**About your experience**

You’ll have significant experience in a retail buying role(s), ideally at a Senior Level and your experience to date will have given you a broad and comprehensive understanding of other business functions including Marketing, Retail Operations and eCommerce.

You will be able to demonstrate the ability to use sound commercial judgement, prioritise & deal effectively with fast changing scenarios and to ensure that decisions are made and communicated in a timely manner. The ability to build and maintain rapport and strong working relationships with other key stakeholders across a range of functions is therefore essential.

As is the ability to build supplier relationships, communicate business strategy and challenge on behalf of the customer to ensure we always deliver a market leading proposition. Staying ‘customer obsessed’ at all times and keeping up with the changing nature of the market is essential.

Other key experience/skills includes;
- Experience of managing budgets along with managing significant supplier income streams
- Experience in line management, coaching and mentoring
- Experience in creating and delivering strategic plans and budget forecasts
- Experience of own brand development and sourcing
- The confidence, experience and gravitas required to represent the function strongly with key internal stakeholders and key external partners
- High levels of commercial awareness along with the tenacity and resilience required to take ownership of a market leading category within a fast-moving market
- Experience of dealing with significant supplier negotiations
- Strong communication skills and exceptional team leadership skills

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