Excellent career development opportunity with a $100bn global retail brand
Are you highly numerate, commercially curious and looking to build a career within buying and retail?
Perhaps you're already working within a Buying, Merchandising or Retail Head Office team and ready for your next move.
Or maybe you're a recent business-related graduate with some workplace experience, strong numerical ability and the ambition to build your commercial skills within a fast-paced global organisation.
Either way, this is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the world's largest and most successful retailers, learning from experienced Buyers while gaining hands-on exposure to the data, suppliers, inventory and commercial processes behind a major retail operation.
We're particularly interested in candidates from established retailers such as John Lewis, Debenhams or similar large-scale brands, but we're equally keen to uncover talented graduates with the potential to develop quickly.
The Role at a Glance
Buying Assistant
Watford, Hertfordshire | Office Based
£35,048 + Excellent Benefits + Career Progression
Full Time | 40 Hours per Week
Your Background / Skills: Buying, Merchandising, Retail, Business Graduate, Commercial, Data Analysis, Numeracy, Excel, Inventory, Supplier Management, Administration
Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK without restriction.
The Opportunity
Working closely with Buyers and Assistant Buyers, you'll support the buying function through accurate data management, inventory tracking and effective communication with internal teams and external suppliers.
It's an opportunity to develop a strong understanding of how a major retail buying operation works while building valuable commercial, analytical and stakeholder management skills.
For someone early in their career, there is plenty to learn. For someone already working within retail buying or merchandising, it's an opportunity to bring that experience into a major global organisation with excellent scope for progression.
What You'll Be Doing
• Set up and maintain accurate item and vendor records.
• Update pricing, terms, descriptions and supplier details.
• Produce weekly department recap figures and reports.
• Review inventory reports and resolve stock discrepancies.
• Track stock orders and replenishment activity.
• Issue and track vendor contracts and agreements.
• Liaise with regional offices, warehouses and suppliers.
• Support merchandising projects and sample management.
• Assist across the department and wider business as required.
About You
There isn't only one route into this opportunity.
You might already have experience within a buying, merchandising or retail head-office environment, ideally with an established retail brand.
Alternatively, you could be a recent Business Graduate, who has gained some workplace experience and is ready to put your analytical and organisational skills to work.
We're also open to considering strong business-related graduates who may not yet have extensive experience where the aptitude and potential are clear.
You'll likely bring:
• Strong numerical and analytical ability - essential.
• A degree or relevant commercial experience.
• Some workplace experience would be strongly preferred for graduate applicants.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
• Confidence working with data and managing accurate information.
• Good Microsoft Word and Excel skills.
• Commercial curiosity and a genuine desire to learn.
• The confidence to work in a busy, fast-moving environment.
Benefits - After 90-Day Probation
• Executive membership for you + 3 others.
• Life Insurance.
• Pension Plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Optical benefit after 1 year.
• Dental benefit after 2 years.
• 20 days annual holiday.
Ready to Build Your Career in Buying?
Whether you're already developing your career within retail or you're a commercially minded graduate looking for the right place to start, this is an opportunity to learn, contribute and develop within a genuinely global retail business.
If you're highly numerate, detail-driven and eager to learn, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now - interviews are being scheduled and early applications are encouraged.
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