Graduate Buying Assistant
Location: Trafford Park, Greater Manchester
Salary + Benefits : £27,000 – 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, enhanced maternity, health insurance, 2 weeks paid sabbatical after 5 years of service
Department: Product
Looking to kick-start your career in Buying?
Are you a recent graduate looking for more than just a first job?
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing Product team as a Graduate Buying Assistant, giving you the opportunity to build a genuine career in buying and develop a strong understanding of how products go from initial idea through to launch.
You don't need previous buying experience. What we're looking for is someone who is commercially minded, product-obsessed, organised and hungry to learn. A placement year would be advantageous, but your attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to develop are what really matter.
A career designed to develop you
From day one, you'll work closely with experienced Buyers and the wider merchandising team, gaining exposure to the full buying process.
You'll develop your understanding of:
-
Product development and the journey from initial brief through to launch
-
Supplier relationships and managing product information
-
Buying and merchandising
-
Product performance and market benchmarking
-
Order management and critical path management
-
Product samples, technical approvals and inspections
-
Website and product listings
-
The commercial side of building a successful product range
The role is deliberately broad, giving you the opportunity to learn the buying function from the ground up, build strong product knowledge and understand how the wider business operates.
As your experience and knowledge develop, you'll be given increasing responsibility and the opportunity to progress your career within the buying and merchandising function.
What will you be doing?
You'll support the Buyer and wider Product team with a varied range of responsibilities, including:
-
Managing and tracking the critical path from initial product brief through to launch
-
Working with suppliers to ensure technical assessments, approvals and product information are completed on time
-
Supporting the smooth running of orders, from product set-up and order placement through to supplier submissions and inspection reports
-
Coordinating product samples throughout the development process
-
Maintaining accurate product information across internal systems
-
Supporting the Buyer with accurate and engaging website product listings
-
Carrying out regular competitor and market benchmarking
-
Developing an understanding of product performance to support future range decisions
-
Providing support to the merchandising team
-
Taking on a wide range of projects and tasks to build your knowledge and experience
What are we looking for?
This could be the perfect opportunity if you are:
-
A recent graduate with a relevant degree
-
Passionate about products, retail and the commercial side of business
-
Eager to learn and build a long-term career in buying
-
Commercially curious and interested in understanding how products perform
-
Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
-
Someone who takes a "right first time" approach to data and administration
-
Comfortable using Excel and confident learning new systems
-
Able to manage multiple priorities and communicate effectively
-
Confident, enthusiastic and resilient
-
Someone who brings energy, determination and a positive attitude
Why this role?
For the right graduate, this is an opportunity to build a career rather than simply take a first job.
You'll be surrounded by experienced professionals, gain exposure to multiple areas of buying and merchandising, develop valuable commercial and product knowledge, and take on increasing responsibility as you progress.
If you're ambitious, curious and ready to put your university experience into practice, this could be the ideal first step towards a successful career in buying
