Job Description

Assistant Buyer - General Merchandise
Swindon Head Office
Grade C

Scope of the Role & Department:
Due to growth we have exciting opportunities across some of our categories for an Assistant Buyer to join our talented team based in our High Street Head office in Swindon.

Buying forms the backbone of our business and is incredibly fast-paced. By identifying trends and understanding our on-going success stories, this team ensures what customers want is on our shelves. It takes a flair for relationship building, negotiation and an analytical approach. We look for people who can deliver a variety of strategies to help drive sales and profit and who have an affinity with what we sell. Have you got what it takes?

You will be responsible for growing specific categories and ranges which requires an organised individual, capable of managing complex information and supporting the team in all areas of activity. The successful candidate will have strong relationship skills as well as being confident when it comes to presenting data and analysing the figures. Our Buyers are highly focused on promotions and pricing, creating attractive deals and using strategic vision.

Key Responsibilities:

• ​You will have buying responsibility for categories across some of our exciting ranges and will be responsible for selecting and developing profitable new ranges.
• You’ll use your commercial acumen to generate new ideas on how to grow YOY sales, margin and income, whilst building up strong relationships with suppliers to deliver effective and profitable plans.
• Working closely with the supply base to ensure in store availability is maintained, managing performance within budget.
• You’ll utilise your analytical skills to deliver meaningful reports and cut through the information / detail in order to get to the real issue, whilst keeping abreast of market trends and competitor activity in a fast paced environment, to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering.
• You’ll need to engage and partner with other areas of the business including Operations, Business Development, Marketing and Finance team to deliver the best results.

Essential Skills:

• Ideally you’ll be from a Retail / FMCG Buying background however administration skills are key for this position and will be at the forefront of everything you do.
• You will be creative, but also commercial, with a head for figures, as this area’s data-driven.
• You’ll need to have an entrepreneurial mindset and be looking for a role that has the scope to develop and make a real impact.

What we can offer you:
Annual bonus based on company performance
Hybrid working model from home and in the office
24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
Finish at 4pm on a Friday
Competitive pension contribution
Staff discount card for stores and online

About Us
WHSmith is a leading, global travel retailer with a smaller business located on UK high streets. Since 1792, we’ve grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. Today, we have more than 1700 stores in over 30 countries across the globe, serving millions of customers every year, and you’ll find us at airports, railway stations, hospitals and on the high street.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and basis of disability. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and encourage them in particular from individuals from under-represented groups at WH Smith. This includes women and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.
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