Junior Buyer: Upholstery

Ready to take a cushy new step in your retail career? We are looking for an ambitious Junior Buyer who knows how to drive serious commercial results. In this role you won't just be sitting back, you’ll work side-by-side with Merchandising to stitch together high-performing assortments, negotiate plump margins with suppliers, and bring market-leading own-brand and branded designs to life. If you have a passion for upholstery, sharp commercial instincts, and a competitive edge, we’d love to hear from you.

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.75 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Salary up to: £38,000.00 per annum dependant on skill and experience
• Contract type: This is a secondment opportunity until October 2027
• Hours and location of the role:
  • 35 hours per week
  • Your home location will be our London, Pimlico Head Office
  • This is a hybrid working role. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as team collaboration is critical in this role - core days vary between teams

Key responsibilities:

• You will work at pace and agility within a collaborative environment with your Buying Manager, Trade Planning, Trading & Product Operations team, Design and Product Technology. Externally you will hold a strong relationship with your suppliers and Brands
• With guidance from your Buying Manager, you will be accountable for making all decisions on the product assortment: development, sourcing, brand positioning, price structure and margins. These will be in line with category and customer strategy. In collaboration with merchandising, you will need to make season trading and volume decisions along with the commercial terms and product lifecycle with the supplier and Brands
• You will be accountable for the commercial success of a product range as defined and agreed with your Buying Manager and the commercial and customer success of a product range through range planning and agile in-season trading
• You will ensure you have up to date expert market knowledge for the category and can predict future market dynamics
• You will be accountable for building and maintaining strong supplier relationships, ensuring that they adhere to the required standards and agreed terms
• You will be expected to task manage, coach and provide feedback to your team's Buying Assistants 
• Responsible for all commercial negotiations inclusive of marketing funds (Media Sales team responsible for implementation & briefing (on-site + agencies))
• Support the Buying Manager in building a product strategy
• Develop and buy market leading own brand and branded ranges managing product lifecycle from launch to exit of product ranges
• Collaborate with specialist functions to plan and develop ranges
• Collaborate with specialist functions to develop a sourcing strategy for your product assortment, delivering category margin targets & ensuring your supply base complies with all CSR and legal requirements
• Collaborate with Merchandiser to prepare, and share Standardised Range Plan in line with critical path to hand over to Central Operations Team
• Alongside Merchandiser, sign off product ranges and branch grading with Buying Manager and Head of Buying when required, using reporting from Product Operations
• Propose Balance To Achieve across commercial KPIs for the assortment each month in collaboration with the Merchandiser
• Work with the Merchandisers in your team to ensure Buying office negotiated rebates targets are achieved 
• Work with and comply with all critical path requirements as necessary
• Support projects as required to support category customer experience
• Manage relationships with central teams to support outcomes

Essential skills and/or experience you’ll need: 

• Extensive product development and brand management experience 
• Proven experience in the retail industry with a focus on buying, category management, or product management within Upholstery. Direct experience in buying practices, merchandising strategies, and supplier negotiations is critical for this role
• Strong negotiation skills and experience in leading strategic commercial negotiations with suppliers and vendors to secure favourable terms and agreements, maximising value and profitability for the category in your remit
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate ideas, negotiate agreements, and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Desirable skills and/or experience you may have: 

• Category specific knowledge or experience

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.