Paramount Retail Group
Commercial Buyer – Supplier Relationships & Negotiation
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Commercial Buyer – Supplier Relationships & Negotiation
Salary: £40,000–£45,000 DOE
Location: Birstall, West Yorkshire
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Pattern: Hybrid considered
Start Date: Immediate start available
Join Fetch Retail as our Commercial Buyer
We're looking for a commercially minded, confident and relationship-driven Buyer to join Fetch Retail and take ownership of our supplier relationships, purchasing and product range.
This isn't a role where you'll spend your days simply raising purchase orders and monitoring stock levels. We're looking for someone who enjoys talking to people, picking up the phone, building relationships and negotiating a great deal. You'll be the key commercial link between Fetch Retail and our suppliers. You'll develop strong relationships with existing suppliers, negotiate better costs and terms, identify new suppliers and products, and look for opportunities to improve our range and profitability.
You'll have a genuine opportunity to make an impact on sales, margin and supplier performance, with the freedom to build relationships and make commercial decisions rather than simply following a buying process.
If you're naturally chatty, commercially curious and confident having conversations with suppliers — including picking up the phone and negotiating when needed — we'd love to hear from you.
About the role
Reporting to the General Manager – Digital Division, you'll manage purchasing and supplier relationships across Fetch Retail's websites and marketplace channels.
A big part of the role will be working directly with suppliers — developing relationships, having regular conversations, negotiating costs and terms, and finding opportunities to work together more effectively.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with our existing suppliers.
- Regularly communicating with suppliers by phone and email to discuss pricing, availability, promotions and opportunities.
- Negotiating cost prices, rebates, payment terms, promotional funding and other commercial support.
- Challenging suppliers when necessary and confidently negotiating better deals.
- Identifying opportunities to improve our buying terms and gross margin.
- Finding and approaching new suppliers and alternative sources of supply.
- Developing relationships with new suppliers and helping bring them into the business.
- Talking to suppliers about new products, upcoming ranges and market opportunities.
- Reviewing supplier and product performance and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Recommending new products, range changes and products that should be discontinued.
- Working with suppliers to secure stock for promotions and maximise commercial opportunities.
- Managing purchase orders and ensuring suppliers deliver against agreed expectations.
- Resolving supply issues, shortages and delivery discrepancies with suppliers.
- Keeping on top of cost-price changes and making sure our commercial information remains accurate.
- Working closely with Finance, Inventory Planning, Ecommerce, Marketing and Warehouse Operations.
- Using sales, margin and stock information to support your buying decisions.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who is commercially confident, personable and proactive. You don't need to be the person who wants to spend all day buried in spreadsheets. We want someone who enjoys the commercial and relationship side of buying — someone who is comfortable picking up the phone, building rapport and having conversations with suppliers.
You'll ideally have:
- Previous experience in buying, purchasing or category management.
- Experience dealing directly with suppliers.
- Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
- Confidence negotiating prices, terms and commercial agreements.
- A natural ability to build rapport and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Excellent communication skills and confidence speaking to people at all levels.
- A proactive personality — you're happy to pick up the phone rather than always sending an email.
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of cost price, margin and profitability.
- Good Excel and analytical skills.
- Strong organisation and attention to detail.
- The confidence to make decisions and take ownership.
- The ability to manage multiple suppliers, conversations and priorities at the same time.
Personality is important to us
We're particularly interested in people who are:
- Chatty and personable – you enjoy speaking to people and building genuine relationships.
- Confident – you're comfortable asking for a better price, challenging a supplier or having a difficult conversation when required.
- Commercially curious – you're always thinking about where we can get a better deal, improve margin, find a new product or create a new opportunity.
- Persistent – if you need an answer from a supplier, you don't just send an email and wait three days.
- Relationship-focused – you understand that good supplier relationships can lead to better pricing, better availability, better opportunities and better service.
- Proactive – you don't wait to be told what to do. You spot opportunities and act on them.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience that would be useful
Experience within retail, ecommerce, FMCG or the pet-care sector would be advantageous, as would experience buying for websites or marketplace channels.
Experience dealing directly with wholesalers, manufacturers or direct suppliers would also be beneficial.
We'd also be interested in people who have worked in a commercially focused purchasing or account-management environment and have a strong desire to move further into buying.
About Fetch Retail
Fetch Retail is a growing multi-channel online pet retailer, operating across established consumer websites and marketplace channels.
We're focused on improving product availability, strengthening supplier partnerships and delivering sustainable, profitable growth.
As our Commercial Buyer, you'll play an important role in that growth. You'll have genuine responsibility for our supplier relationships, negotiations, purchasing decisions and product range.
You'll be working with suppliers on a regular basis and will have the opportunity to build relationships, negotiate better commercial terms and identify opportunities that directly contribute to the growth of the business.
What you'll influence
Supplier Relationships
Building strong partnerships and becoming a trusted commercial contact for our suppliers.
Negotiation & Cost Savings
Securing better prices, terms, rebates and commercial support.
Gross Margin
Finding opportunities to improve profitability through better buying.
Product & Range Development
Identifying new products, suppliers and commercial opportunities.
Promotional Opportunities
Working with suppliers to secure funding, stock and support for promotions.
Supplier Performance
Building strong relationships while holding suppliers accountable when required.
The role in a nutshell
If you enjoy talking to people, negotiating, building relationships and finding commercial opportunities, this could be a great opportunity to join a growing business where your decisions will have a visible impact.
We're looking for someone who isn't afraid to pick up the phone, have the conversation and ask for the deal.
If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London