Buyer (FMCG) - 12 month FTC

Poundland Far East Limited; Walsall; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A retail company in Walsall seeks an experienced Buyer to manage an FMCG category on a hybrid model. You’ll lead the planning and development of product ranges while fostering relationships with suppliers. Ideal candidates are expert negotiators from a retail FMCG background, adept in data interpretation, and agile in changing priorities. The role offers a generous holiday allowance, car allowance, and numerous employee benefits aimed at ensuring employee wellbeing and family support.

Benefits

Car allowance

Free on-site parking

Onsite coffee lounge

Exclusive store discounts

Family-friendly benefits

Life assurance cover

Health & wellbeing programme

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experienced Buyer from a Retail FMCG background.
• Ability to deliver strategies and plans with targets and KPIs.
• Strong understanding of the Supply Chain Process.
• Agility to changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned FMCG category and ensure its success.
• Identify and develop new range opportunities.
• Negotiate costs and develop relationships with suppliers.
• Accountable for category strategies and spend analysis.

Skills

Expert negotiator

Relationship building

Data interpretation

Understanding of FMCG market

Job description

We're looking for a Buyer who has managed an FMCG category to join our team, based at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall on a hybrid working model, 3 days a week in the office. This role is a fixed term contract for 12 months.

You’ll take the lead on your assigned category, ensuring its success through effective planning, budgeting and negotiating. Taking an essential role in our product journey, without you, our customers wouldn’t be able to shop the ranges they love.

We uphold three core behaviours that guide all our actions:

Love Our Customers: We strive to delight our customers, listening and responding to their needs because they are our priority.

Care for Our Colleagues: We support each other to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Protect Our Pounds/Euros: We are committed to cost‑efficiency and value, ensuring every penny counts.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

• You’ll be accountable for maximising the success of your FMCG category performance, along with the Senior Buyer. Seeking out opportunities or threats, resolving issues and making recommendations for action by working closely with the broader category team.
• Identifying, creating, and developing new range opportunities, taking the lead on constructing a robust and successful plan.
• Understanding and interpreting key customer insights and data to identify and react to market trends and shopping habits.
• Visiting suppliers and their factories to develop ranges, negotiate the cost of goods, and explore new opportunities.
• Be accountable for the development of category strategies, including research and analysis (spend analysis, cost benchmarking, etc).

For this role we need someone who is an experienced Buyer from a Retail FMCG background, is an expert negotiator, builds great working relationships and knows their way around a spreadsheet. Along with:

• Keeps one step ahead of the market, through calculated risks.
• Experience of delivering strategies and plans with associated targets, KPIs and performance monitoring, along with reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Comfortable with being agile to changing priorities.
• Strong understanding of the sector and competitor.
• Thorough understanding of the Supply Chain Process.

Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in‑house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.

Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.

Car Allowance: Enjoy the advantage of a car allowance, allowing you to choose your own vehicle while reducing commuting costs.

Free On‑Site Parking: Enjoy the convenience of free parking, making your daily commute hassle‑free.

Onsite Coffee Lounge: Take advantage of our onsite coffee lounge, a perfect space to relax and recharge during breaks.

Exclusive Store Discounts: Receive a 10% discount on most in‑store purchases, enhancing your shopping experience.

Family‑Friendly Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits are designed to support you and your family’s needs.

My Staff Shop: Gain exclusive discounts through our ‘My Staff Shop’ portal, saving on various products and services.

Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future.

Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.

Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 33 days per year (inc banks), with the option to buy additional holidays annually. Celebrate your special day off work every year with an extra day of holiday because we believe birthdays are important.

Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.

Since our humble beginnings in 1990, Poundland has evolved into a retail powerhouse with over 700 stores and 15,000 dedicated colleagues across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The addition of Dealz in 2011 further solidified our presence, enabling us to reach millions of customers with our unparalleled value offerings.

At Poundland & Dealz, we don’t just offer products at unbeatable prices; we cultivate an environment where every colleague can thrive and contribute to our mission of providing amazing value to millions of customers.

Our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and sustainability forms the foundation of our culture, empowering our team members to be the best versions of themselves while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our behaviours and the hard work, commitment and passion of our wonderful colleagues make it all possible.

We like to keep things simple, so we have just three behaviours that lie at the heart of everything we do and keep us on track. They are Love our customers, Care for our colleagues, and Protect the Pounds and Euros. By living our behaviours every day, we’ve created a land that is fun, friendly, and full of surprises—a place where our people can truly be the best versions of themselves!