We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced buyer preferably with furniture especially Upholstery experience to join our buying team at Oak Furnitureland. The role is a 12 month maternity cover contract based in our Swindon head office. We can offer flexible hybrid working 5 days a week with 2 days in the office and 3 from home or we would consider a 4 day working week.
As a buyer at Oak Furnitureland, you'll be responsible for translating and executing the category strategy to deliver profitable growth for the business. You will be accountable for owning and supporting the delivery of category strategy on own brand ranges, working closely with the Head of Buying and the rest of the Buying Team. Establishing effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders at a senior level is paramount.
We are looking for someone who is commercially focussed and has previous experience of working with suppliers in both the Far East suppliers and Europe as you will be dealing with in-house teams and the sourcing team in the Far East.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record in product development, creating an offering that meets customer needs and owning the development end-to-end. You will work closely with our quality and sourcing team to implement each range. Excellent communication skills are required as you will be the champion of our product across all business areas such as marketing, creative and web, ensuring we launch fantastic products for our customers.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop a commercial product offering that meets customer needs across our Furniture product categories
- Manage and deliver the critical path to ensure new product developments launch on time, and be comfortable managing multiple projects at any given time
- Work closely with internal departments such as Merchandising, Marketing, QC and wider Oak Furnitureland teams
- Build strong relationships with our supply base and implement successful and efficient ways of working
- Negotiate the best possible terms with our suppliers
- Ensure we successfully deliver new products to market whilst finding ways to constantly evolve and update our core collections
Skills and experience:
- Proven track record in a buying role with product development, ideally within Furniture preferably, but not limited to Upholstery
- Commercial awareness and an excellent attention to detail
- A passion for product, balanced with understanding the need for commercial acumen
- Strong analytical and numerical skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Effective communicator, presenter and team player with an ability to bring others with them to deliver a strategy.
- Ability to demonstrate problem solving and provide resolution in a fast-paced environment
- Working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team, you will support in cross functional meetings and successfully drive our product strategy
Benefits:
- Employee discount: amazing discounts available on all Oak Furnitureland products after successful completion of probation
- Life assurance: free cover of a minimum of two times your annual salary up to the age of 65
- 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
- Birthday: an additional day off for you to celebrate your birthday
- Hybrid working available
- Pension: 4% employee contribution matched by the company
- Employee Assistance Programme: gives all employees access to both telephone and face-to-face counselling services
- My Rewards Programme: offers discounts on everything from restaurants and supermarkets, to entertainment and holidays
- Free on-site parking