Next Plc
Category Buyer
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The Role
Based at our distribution centre in South Elmsall, West Yorkshire, we’re on the lookout for a driven and detail-focused Category Buyer to support our Procurement Services team. You will be responsible for buying Fleet, MHE, Warehouse Assets, Personal Protective Equipment, Pallets and Uniform. The category spend is £30m, with 50 key suppliers.
This is a great opportunity to take ownership of procurement for fleet, material handling equipment, warehouse assets, personal protective equipment, pallets, and uniform. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external networks to deliver value, support warehouse automation projects, and ensure our operations remain efficient and safe.
Please note this role includes a company car.
What You Will Take On
- Supplier Sourcing: Identify and recommend potential partners, building an internal and external network to implement best practices.
- Tender Preparation: Prepare financial, product, and service performance reviews for requests for quotation and manage standard tender practice documents.
- Supplier Appraisal: Conduct commercial appraisals, including site visits and online second-stage negotiations.
- Contract Management: Prepare formal contracts and service level agreements alongside our legal team, establishing clear performance measures.
- Performance and Relationships: Manage day-to-day supplier communication, conduct strategic operational reviews, and use scorecards to rank performance.
- Internal Collaboration: Meet regularly with internal stakeholders to manage expectations regarding product specification, pricing, and delivery timescales.
- Spend and Financial Analysis: Manage purchase orders accurately, pre-approve orders, resolve invoice queries, and support the finance team during the budget process.
- Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure all suppliers comply with technical and legal safety standards for personal protective equipment.
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What You Will Bring
- Two or more years of buying experience, preferably within a warehousing and distribution environment.
- Strong analytical capability and a clear communication style suitable for all levels of the business.
- Excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills.
- A solid financial understanding to manage spend and analyze data.
- The ability to work on your own initiative accurately and efficiently while contributing to a collaborative team.
- A Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply qualification, or progress toward one, is beneficial but not essential.
#LI-DC1
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count, we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online, and it’s now possible to buy online from over 80 countries around the world! So, we’ve gone global!
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- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- Company performance-based bonus
- Sharesave scheme
- On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Early VIP access to sale stock
- Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
- Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
- Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
- Free on-site parking
- Financial Wellbeing - Save, track, and enhance your financial wellbeing
- Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
- Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions, and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email at headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
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