Category Assistant (Buying Team)

Category Assistant (Buying Team)

£25,000 - £35,000 (dependent upon experience)

Manchester - Office Based

Our Client, a rapidly expanding distributor of FMCG products to the retail market now has an excellent opportunity for a Category Assistant to join their Buying team based in Manchester.

Duties include:

• To assist the Manager in sourcing new products to ensure the range is competitive in the market.
• Develop new and improve existing items for the Group.
• Develop & build customer own label brands.
• Develop new categories for customer base through buying and sourcing.
• Sourcing suppliers which can fit within existing distribution channels.
• Source Product based on brief to fit into either price points, trends or existing programmes.
• Strengthen supply chain based on relationships, networks, price, availability and longevity.
• Working & reporting to the Senior Buyer to ensure optimum availability of stock.
• Identify new potential markets based on mid-long-term longevity.
• Develop, design and position products for identified channels.
• Brief artwork department with product design.
• Need to conduct market research to provide brief for the text on the products.
• Procure technical support data for new products for quality assurance and health and safety.
• Liaising with internal and external sales personnel to provide detailed stock availability information.
• Willing to travel worldwide for visiting Trade Fairs and visiting factories to ensure compliance.
• Creating, raising and sending purchase orders .
• Maintenance of orders and data according to the buying systems set up in Navision.

Skills Required

• Some experience of buying - ideally within FMCG.
• Supplier to retail experience
• Understanding & experience with manufacturers.
• Experience of MS Office to an intermediary level
• Commercial awareness, negotiation of high-level contracts & creativity
• Ability to communicate to all levels of the business
• Ability to thrive under pressure
• Hands on approach

Apply online or for further information contact one of specialist consultants quoting reference number: NJR14751