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Do you have a passion for merchandising or product? Do you want to kick-start your career working with exciting brands? Do you want a fresh approach to your work/life balance? If you do, join the Sainsbury’s General Merchandise team.
Our General Merchandise teams are key to delivering our ‘brands that deliver’ strategy. We’re a diverse and dynamic business unit area with a passion for all things buying and merchandising. The teams are responsible for delivering exciting and ambitious growth plans, offering customers a great range of products, that they want and need, at a great price, through all the various own brands and third-party brands that we work collaboratively with.
The role
Sainsbury’s has recently released its new 3-year General Merchandise strategy so it’s an exciting time to help shape our brand’s general merchandise offer. You’ll be part of the backbone of our business, which is naturally incredibly fast-paced, working with inspiring teams who are really passionate about what they do. And they do it really well!
We aren’t afraid to challenge the traditional ways of working. We absolutely see the value in allowing our colleagues to work flexibly and that’s why our ways of working allows you to maintain a great work/life balance and gives you the opportunity to make your hours work for you, with plenty of opportunity to work either in the office or at home.
Our Assistant Buyers:
- Support with team objectives to build a commercial range for our customers that they’ll love, in line with the direction of the market, trends and competitors
- Understand how to trade effectively, to maximise our sales and profit variables
- Understand the in-store experience through the lens of both customer and colleague of our product ranges. Use this experience to optimise, and to inform future decisions about the range
- Assist with planograms, promotional activity, product specifications and supplier selection
- Support negotiation with the Global Sourcing team
- Accountable for the buying milestones, along product development and global sourcing
- Support other Buyers to liaise with the Product Development team and Technologist to set the criteria for own label products, ensuring a balance between quality and price
- Manage administrative duties, approvals and sample management
- Coaching of Category Administrator
What can you bring to the role?
Our teams will love to see:
- Previous industry experience, preferably a retail background, or a graduate from a relevant field
- A passion for product, balanced with understanding commercial acumen
- Willing to learn negotiation skills and practices
- Interest in market trends
- Positive and proactive approach to building relationships with stakeholders
- Ability to demonstrate problem solving and provide resolution in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent administration and organisational ability
- Good written and verbal communication skills – Word knowledge
- Strong analytical and numerical skills - Excel knowledge
Why Sainsbury’s
Work life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.
Also, did we mention you’ll get colleague discount across out multiple brands, holiday, bonus scheme, pension plan, option to access private health care and special offers/discounts on gym membership, restaurants, holidays, retailers and more.
