Buying Manager - Sports

The Very Group; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Liverpool is seeking an experienced Buying Manager to join the Sports Buying Team. This role involves leading a team, managing supplier relationships, and collaborating with various departments to deliver products that resonate with customers. Candidates should have a strong background in sports buying and excellent leadership skills. The position offers a flexible working model and a range of benefits including a substantial benefits allowance, holidays, and discounts.

Benefits

Flexible, hybrid working model

Inclusive culture

£6,500 flexible benefits allowance

30 days holiday + bank holidays

LinkedIn learning access

Bonus potential

Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk

Matched pension up to 6%

Qualifications

• Experience buying performance sportswear.
• Excellent leadership and communication abilities.
• Highly organised, analytical, and commercially minded.
• Ability to pre-empt potential challenges.
• Strong presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage, motivate, train, and develop a team of buyers.
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising for successful product launches.
• Negotiate terms with suppliers and maintain strong vendor relationships.
• Stay updated on market trends and competitor activity.
• Deputise for the Head of Buying in key meetings.

Skills

Buying performance sportswear

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Job description

About us.

We’re the team behind digital retailer Very.

Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do.

And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go.

If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers. ✨

About the team.

We’re looking for a Buying Manager to join our Sports Buying Team. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with some of the world’s biggest brands, across multiple sports disciplines as well as sport-style fashion.

As part of The Very Sports Team, you will lead the team to deliver a product offer that our customers will love - whilst also implementing the overall department strategy.

About the role.

We have an exciting opportunity for an established sports Buying Manager who has experience and established relationships within the sports industry. You’ll report into the Head of Buying for Sports and Branded Men’s Fashion and manage a team that covers sport-style fashion, football, run, train, outdoor, swim, golf and racket sports.

Day to day you will be monitoring department performance and work with merchandising and/or marketing teams to react accordingly. Meet with your supply base regularly to maintain strategic relationships, collaborate on joint business plans, review in-season performance and negotiate any identify opportunities and any actions needed to maintain good stock health, full price mix and intake margins.

In this role the candidate will lead on annual trading terms and managing supplier income for the department so experience in this is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Manage, motivate, train, and develop a team of buyers, fostering commercial acumen
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, merchandising, DCX, studio and logistics to align product launches and promotions with overall sports department goals
• Sourcing & Negotiation: Identify new suppliers, negotiate terms, and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Commercial awareness: Awareness of the market is key, keeping track of competitor activity, market trends and price positioning
• Able to deputise for the Head of Buying in key meetings
• Formulating Range Frameworks/Brand Plans alongside merchandising functions

About you.

• Experience buying performance sportswear
• Excellent leadership and communication abilities
• You will be highly organised, analytical and commercially minded
• You can pre-empt potential challenges that may impact team or trading and take steps to minimise them before they arise
• Strong presentation skills: clearly articulate sign offs and category performance to Senior Leadership Team

Some of our benefits

• Flexible, hybrid working model

• Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews

• £6,500 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays

• LinkedIn learning access

• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)

• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk

• Matched pension up to 6%

• More benefits can be found on our career site

How to apply

Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.

What happens next?

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely.

You can expect a two-stage interview process for this position:

1st stage - An informal 30-45 minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.

2nd Stage – A one-hour formal task based interview where you can expect both competency and technical questions.

As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any rational adjustments.

If you'd like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.

Equal opportunities

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.