Junior Buyer

**About the opportunity** We are looking for a Junior Buyer to join our Buying Team based at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall; the role has a flexible-working location, allowing you to work from home and the office.

Reporting into the Senior Buyer, the Junior Buyer will be responsible for purchasing & supplying products within designated Seasonal categories. As a Junior Buyer, you will build category strategies and ensure ranges land on time whilst managing stock levelsand developing supplier strategies.

This is a diverse role working in a fast-paced environment. You will be responsible for representing our business both in the brand and the budget culture through the products you select.

Some of our ranges are specially designed and created for us in the Far East; the role will involve travel to the Far East, approximately two-three times per year (post Covid19).

**What you'll be doing...** As a Junior Buyer, you will be responsible for:

- Accountability for the category's performance to Senior Buyer, spotting opportunities and threats and resolving issues by working closely with the broader category team
- Purchasing and supply of all products within the category from conception to store
- Ensuring products are in line with current and future trends
- Cultivating and nurturing relationships with suppliers to ensure we can offer customers amazing products at amazing value
- Negotiating costs and delivery timescales in line with company budget and KPI's
- Visit factories to develop ranges, negotiate the price of goods, exploring new markets in developing countries/economies
- Liaise with Merchandisers on the sourcing of product that meets promotional and seasonal activity.

**What you'll need...** **To be successful, you will need**:

- At least 2 years’ experience in buying or 3 years at assistant buyer level
- A degree or equivalent would be desirable
- Previous experience within General Merchandise or Clothing and willingness to travel overseas is essential
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Good numeracy and Excel skills
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage own workload.

**What we can offer...** **What we can offer...**
- Competitive salary
- Potential to earn bonus
- Free on-site car park
- Onsite coffee lounge
- Long service awards
- Additional holiday purchase - (once a year window to apply)
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

**About us...** Since opening our first store in Burton-upon-Trent in 1990, Poundland, has built a network of over 850 stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, offering top brands and great quality own brand products that provide customers with amazing value everyday

Poundland offers thousands of quality products in store with over 1,000 well-known brands in 17 shopping categories including food and drink, health and beauty, household, gardening, DIY, pet, stationery, books, DVDs and toys.We are now on a journey froma single price to a simple price point retailer.

Now part of Pepco Group with over 2,500 stores across Europe, you will see Poundland also trades internationally in the Republic of Ireland through its Dealz brand.Dealz has a growing store base in both Poland and Spain.

Within the UK Poundland has also rolled out its fashion brand PEP&CO to approximately 300 of our larger stores. PEP&CO, launched in 2015 as a stand-alone brand, offers customers a full range of women’s, men’s and kids’ fashion and is now bringing new styleto Poundland with simple low pricing on family fashion that’s hard to find on local high streets.

PEP&CO was also nominated in the 2019 Retail Week Awards as Private Label of The Year.