Junior Buyer

**The Role**:
Junior Buyer

Full Time 39 Hours

Fixed term - 12 months

Hybrid working (Head Office Windermere - minimum 2 days per week)

The Junior Buyer role provides a development position that gives the opportunity for more experience in all aspects of Buying, whilst also ensuring the support and direction of a Buyer is at hand. It’s an exciting and varied job and a real opportunity to progress a career in Buying. Under the guidance of the Buyer you will be required to develop a clear product strategy based on sales history, market trend, innovation and company objectives. You will be responsible for delivering this strategy through the development, sourcing, purchasing and introduction of new, market-leading products in conjunction with suppliers, manufacturers, inventors and designers. You will be tasked with efficiently managing these newly-selected products through all compliance, testing processes, internal systems and marketing requirements, and in to the business.

**About You**:
You’ll be comfortable with IT with strong commercial and numerical skills and also be comfortable negotiating with suppliers. You’ll have demonstrable experience in Buying with experience working for a multi-channel Homewares retailer as well as experience of working directly with UK and/or International factories. You’ll have strong planning and organisation skills as well as being able to use your initiative and manage your own workload to meet deadlines and work to a critical path. You’ll enjoy working in a fast paced environment where there is a high level of interruption. You’ll have strong communication skills and enjoy being part of a team, but also be happy working independently. A passion for product and understanding commerciality will also be key.

**About Lakeland**:
Founded in the early 60s, we're still a family-owned business with the same strong values of quality and customer care now as when we first started. From selling plastic bags for home freezing from the Rayner family garage in Windermere, to over 4000 kitchen and home products today, Lakeland has grown to the extent that we now send out thousands of parcels a day from our Kendal despatch centre, and we have stores nationwide, stretching from Aberdeen to Exeter, with more in the pipeline.

**Benefits**:
There are many benefits to being part of the Lakeland team. Other than being part of a huge and happy working family, our colleagues are rewarded with a competitive salary, discretionary bonus scheme and a group personal pension plan.

There are 29 days’ paid holiday (including bank holidays) and generous discounts on our products. We offer a great retail environment, and the chance to be part of a team who like to work and socialise together.