Buying Manager - Local Solutions in Bradford

We are currently recruiting for a Buying Manager – Local Solutions to join our Local Solutions Team on a full-time permanent basis, reporting into the Head of Local Solutions.

The overall objective of the role is to position Morrisons as ‘the local food retailer”. You will be the leader for tailoring the customer, developing and delivering regional plans with goals, sourcing local and regional suppliers, and managing our current suppliers to meet this objective.  You will identify the right range and space for every store in the region and influence the central buying, space and merchandising teams to deliver for you.

In this role you will be accountable for;

Customer

• Undertaking customer listening to understand local .
• Understanding all range opportunities for each category, and agreeing, monitoring and delivering a plan for each which is sales and margin accretive.
• Working with central buying teams, supply chain and technical to source, range and promote products and ranges which meet regional and local tastes:
• prominently located
• actively promoted
• clearly communicated
• relevant own brand ranging and packaging
• supporting and promoting local suppliers

Colleague

• Work collaboratively across functions through teamwork to create and deliver shared vision and plans.
• Building strong relationships with the Retail Leadership team and Store Managers to ensure local solutions are delivered in all stores.

Operational

• Building on the process for delivering local ranging:
• through the category reset programme
• Identifying unique opportunities outside of the category reset programme
• Local Pricing Policy
• Direct To Store
• 3^rd party consolidation
• Foodmakers
• Working with space and merchandising teams to identify and agree space and merchandising for ranges
• Maximising profitable sales growth and developing market share and sales participation for Local ranges.
• Managing Local Direct to Store suppliers – including frequent supplier reviews to discuss opportunities to develop these suppliers, managing store relationships and trouble-shooting process to deliver for all parties.
• Local Buying & Regional Sourcing – developing a supplier strategy and sourcing through the Foodmakers programme and your network to source new suppliers for Morrisons to targeted category plans. Owning the Local supplier relationships and supporting the category buying managers with regional suppliers.

Sales, Profit and Cash

• Working with Buyers to manage suppliers to optimise value and operational efficiencies around product sourcing, supply, availability and packaging.
• Developing, prioritising and executing the regional category strategy based on clear customer metrics in order to maximize sales and margin and deliver agreed target share measures.

To be successful in this position, you will have the following skills, qualifications and experience;

Skills

• The ability to identify local opportunities and deliver them at pace.
• The ability to influence with effective interpersonal skills, other teams, such as Buyers, Space, Merchandising, Supply, Technical, Pricing, Product
• Strong commercial acumen including retail buying and sourcing.
• The ability to use financial analysis and customer data to deliver business plan, which delivers increased brand perception and profit.
• Analytical - can analyse multiple data points and customer insight to derive quick wins and appropriate actions to drive sales and footfall.
• The ability to build strong relationships with Stores and Senior leaders, listening and responding quickly to requirements.
• Project management and delivering to critical paths.
• The ability to manage multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Degree educated (desirable)

Experience

• Understanding of the Local market and the subtle differences between regions.
• A track record of identifying and delivering local ranging opportunities, tailoring the offer to meet local store and customer needs.
• Retail buying or sourcing experience
• A track record of creating, project managing and driving the benefits from a longer-term business plan, such that it maximises sales and margin.
• The ability to create and deliver a strategic plan for both the long and short term.

Marketing is a fast-paced, high energy function that drives sales by putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. The marketing team are our brand champions, making sure we give customers what they want, at prices they like, and delivering an experience that's always unmistakably Morrisons. The team pioneers and delivers industry-leading work in a collaborative and friendly environment with a forward-thinking, people-focused culture. Work is always challenging, frequently fun, and the career prospects are exciting.

Our aim to offer more of what matters extends to our employees too. Join us and you can expect to enjoy great career prospects and a very competitive pay and benefits package. In addition to an attractive salary, we offer a discount card for you plus two more for friends or family members giving you 10% off your shopping in Morrisons. We also offer company share options, a highly competitive pension scheme, Life Assurance and more besides.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.