Assistant Food Buyer

Job description

Assistant Food Buyer:

This is an excellent opportunity for a buying professional at the start of their career with great commercial and analytical skills to join one of Ireland‘s oldest and award-winning retailers. This role sits with Food Buying Team and the successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the team with the delivery and control of purchasing across a diverse portfolio of Food products for the business. The role holds responsibility for assisting in the development of a clear strategy, to deliver improved value for money and supplier performance.

A balance of buying expertise, negotiation and administration skills is required. The successful candidate will work closely with the senior Food Buyers and cross-functionally with other departments including:

Marketing, Buying & Creative, Central Bakery & Kitchen (CBK) & Central Stores (CST) Supply Chain, Business Excellence/EPOS, Food Quality & Safety and Finance

Key Responsibilities:

• Use Meridian EPOS to interpret sales data and create reports to analyse product, supplier, category and store performance, demonstrating strong Excel expertise
• Support Senior Buyers in the development and management of categories including forecasting, promotions and supplier management
• Negotiate, with the support of the senior Food Buyers, to achieve best pricing and terms
• Coordinate and schedule supplier training and instore tastings with the Marketing Team
• Manage hamper gifting category including always-on and seasonal for the Food Buying Team
• Work towards achieving the highest-level sell through possible on seasonal lines to be in line with the business expectation.
• Develop and actively maintain a positive relationship across the business

Supply Chain & Purchasing Systems

• Responsibility for onboarding new suppliers from initial contact to finance approval, including uploading all documentation and product information to Meridian EPOS system.
• Work with senior Food Buyers and Stock Manager to manage stock levels to be in line with company targets to reduce potential risks / waste management.
• Analyse past sales patterns and recommend key promotional activities and varying delivery schedules to efficiently manage stock levels.
• Provide cover for Stock Manager annual leave

Business Support

• Establish and maintain relationships with store General Managers and Food Managers, to assist and enable them in achieving high level of sales.
• Arrange regular store visits with the support of the senior Food Buyers to ensure that products are accurately displayed in-store, according to merchandising guidelines and planograms.
• Work with store staff to reduce out of date stock levels and reduce associated waste/markdowns

Key skills required:

• Two years plus experience in a buying capacity or purchasing role. (food/retail sector preferred)
• Must have a passion for food
• Strong commercial acumen with awareness of spend and extensive experience working with commercial budgets.
• Highly proficient with MS Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint with advanced Excel required.
• Fluent English – written and spoken.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel essential
• Must be able to work independently and multi-task in a fast-paced retail environment

Job Type: Fixed term

Salary: €35,000.00-€38,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Kilmacanogue, CO. Wicklow: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)