Crystal Palace F.C.
Retail Buyer
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Job Location: Selhurst Park Stadium, SE25 6PU
Contract Type: Full-time
Deadline: 8th October 2026
Who we are:
We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history. Spread across three different sites - brand new main offices at Selhurst Park Stadium, our London office, and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.
We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.
About this role:
The Retail Buyer will sit within our retail team and be responsible for the buying of all seasonal retail ranges across the club. The role will combine strong commercial and analytical capability with a passion for product, and a close eye on current market trends to ensure the products are sourced, developed, and purchased at the appropriate price, quantity, and marketed at key periods across the season.
Working closely with a variety of suppliers and key internal teams, namely Head of Retail and Retail designer, the Retail Buyer will oversee the end-to-end buying process, from range planning and product development through to purchasing, stock management and monitoring supplier performance. The role will play an important part in delivering an excellent retail proposition for Palace fans, while achieving the Club’s commercial objectives.
Responsibilities:
- Source, evaluate and select products and suppliers in line with the Club’s commercial, brand and product requirements, and current market trends.
- Negotiate competitive costs, margins, payment terms, minimum order quantities, lead times and other commercial terms.
- Build and maintain strong, effective relationships with clothing and merchandise suppliers.
- Monitor supplier performance and proactively resolve issues relating to product quality, cost, delivery and compliance.
- Visit suppliers and vendors where required to support product development and ensure critical paths are maintained.
- Ensure products are delivered on time, to specification and in line with agreed quality standards.
- Maintain a thorough understanding of relevant legal, regulatory, product safety and compliance requirements.
- Build and manage a balanced, commercially focused and sufficiently innovative product range that reflects the needs and expectations of Crystal Palace supporters across all Club retail channels.
- Plan product ranges, pricing and volumes in line with agreed budgets, sales targets, market trends and customer demand.
- Identify new product opportunities and emerging trends to continually develop and strengthen the Club’s retail proposition.
- Manage the end-to-end product development and ordering process, ensuring products meet agreed quality, cost, specification and delivery requirements.
- Ensure the product range reflects the Crystal Palace brand and supports key Club campaigns, occasions, seasons and commercial initiatives.
- Gather, analyse and interpret sales, product, market, customer and competitor information to inform buying decisions and forecast future demand.
- Conduct regular competitor analysis across relevant retail channels, identifying market opportunities and changes in customer and competitor behaviour.
- Monitor and manage stock levels to maximise sales and availability while minimising excess and aged stock.
- Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
- Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.
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Experience, Skills and Qualifications:
- Proven experience in a retail buying role, ideally within a fast-paced, multi-channel retail environment.
- Experience within professional sport, football, licensed merchandise or a comparable consumer-facing environment is desirable.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with a good understanding of margin and pricing in the current market.
- Proven sourcing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build effective supplier relationships and secure competitive commercial terms.
- Strong product awareness and an understanding of customer needs, retail trends and market dynamics.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple product categories, suppliers and critical paths simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to influence and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Commercially aware, customer-focused and passionate about retail.
- A genuine passion for football and an understanding of the importance of the supporter experience is desirable.
- Flexible and willing to support matchday and wider Club retail operations when required.
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Benefits:
- Complimentary match day ticket
- Reward and Discount Scheme through our Tech Scheme and Simple Health app
- Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme
- 20% Discount in our Retail Stores
- Discounts in various gyms through GymFlex
- Volunteering Day - 1 Workday off to support a charity of your choice.
- Travel Season Ticket loan
- Holiday allowance: 25 Days
Our commitment to Equality
At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.
We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club's activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.
If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact DLO@cpfc.co.uk (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact cpfc.recruitment@cpfc.co.uk). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.
Safeguarding
Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a comprehensive background check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals.
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