Buying Manager – Lighting & Wall Decor

About the role- Are you experienced in Own brand product development within Home categories?

- Are you experienced in leading a team?

- Have you worked for a high street retailer? 

If so, this might be the role for you. 

We are recruiting a Buying Manager to lead the Lighting & Wall Decor team at John Lewis partnership.

Your role is pivotal to leading the Buying function in Lighting & Wall Decor. Along with the Merchandising Manager you are responsible for translating the Directorate strategy into an effective Category strategy.

This role is critical in withholding the strategic direction set on design and product, focusing either on own brand product development and ranging or branded product selection, new to market product launches and brand acquisition.

About the role
 

• Salary - £65,000.00 - £98,000.00

• This position is a permanent contract

• The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Home team aim for a minimum of around 2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings but again, are flexible on this. 

• This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office campus. 
   

Key Responsibilities:
 

Your efforts contribute to delivering distinctive assortments that embody the John Lewis Brand ethos, ensuring they are both style relevant, competitive and of the highest quality. Through effective market insights and negotiation skills, you uphold robust terms with brands and suppliers while aligning with sustainability targets.
 

In collaboration with the Merchandising Manager, the Buying manager will make critical decisions regarding product assortment, design strategy, supplier negotiations, pricing, and promotional strategies, among others, ensuring alignment with the overarching category strategy. Additionally, the role will actively contribute to long-term planning, range optimisation, and in-year trading decisions.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

•  Retail Industry Experience: Extensive proven experience in the retail industry, with a focus on buying, category management, or product management within the designated category. Direct experience in buying practices, merchandising strategies, and supplier negotiations is crucial for success in this role.

•  Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success and achievement in previous buying or category management roles within the Home categories, with a track record of delivering results, driving sales growth, and enhancing profitability within the retail sector.

• Experience in Leading Design of Own-Brand Ranges: Previous experience in leading the design process for own-brand ranges within the designated category. Ability to translate market trends and consumer insights into innovative and commercially viable product designs.

• Leadership Experience: Previous experience in leadership or managerial roles, with a focus on team management, coaching, and development. Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team, foster a collaborative and high-performance culture, and drive results through effective team management.

• Category Expertise: In-depth knowledge and expertise within Home categories, including an understanding of product trends, customer preferences, and industry dynamics. Direct experience in range planning, product assortment development, and brand management within the category is highly desirable.

• Communication Skills: 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/experience you may have

• Demonstrated success and achievement in previous buying or category management roles within Lighting, with a track record of delivering results, driving sales growth, and enhancing profitability within the retail sector.

#LI-HS1 

#LI-HYBRID

#LI-HEADOFFICE

About The Partnership

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. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

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.