Job Description
London Based with frequent travel to the Netherlands
We have an exciting new opportunity for the right candidate to join our commercial team based in London as a Buyer, buying for WHSmith Netherlands. We are looking for a candidate with a strong FMCG background, tough negotiation skills, with a passion for buying to join our team.
The role of the Buying is truly cross-functional – you will be right at the centre of the business, leading and driving the commercial agenda. You will have full accountability and an opportunity to shape the future of the company through your suppliers.
What you'll do
* Understand and support total business strategy & their category's role within it. Ownership of annual trade/category plan process. Full involvement in the origination, trialling and development of ‘3-year-plan' ideas
* Review of more extended trading outlook (6 months+), mitigation plans to hand (Plan B's), and engagement with the wider business on developing trends.
* Own your category pricing including the development and management of any pricing policies.
* Responsible for signing off any pricing changes and own margin plans over a longer period with expected outcomes trailed and understood.
* Support on Managing detailed and complex trials and trials that cross beyond own category, be the cross-functional 'go to' for category/department.
* Full ownership of department supplier income delivery & responsibility for reporting performance across the business. Management of month-end processes
* Understand, develop, and share net terms. Implements clear actions, with a long-term supplier strategy covering annual deals, payment terms, cost prices, and marketing spending. Conducts regular grow/hold/decline reviews.
* Manage long-term, substantial increases in supplier income with major new incremental streams, LFL growth delivered and monthly reporting into the P&L meeting.
* Engagement in and leadership of new store format development
About you
* Background in FMCG or similar product categories.
* You will have strong experience within relevant buying or commercial roles within the International / European market place
* Understands the importance and takes a proactive approach to the development of wider trading team members.
* An individual who has the ability to work cross-functionally to deliver results.
* Strong business acumen
* Is a compelling voice of the business and category(s) externally (suppliers, landlords), and internally (stakeholders, stores)
* Leads and develops a positive culture.
* Desired multilingual
What we offer you
* Competitive salary
* Annual bonus based on company and personal performance.
* Hybrid working model with frequent travel.
* 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday.
* Finish at 4pm on a Friday
* Employee discount for stores.
Who We Are
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognized brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 11,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture at all levels. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.