Retail Buyer / Category Manager
Posted Today by Distinct | B Corp
Negotiable
Undetermined
Hybrid
West Midlands, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The role of Interim Retail Buyer involves taking ownership of a key product category for a well-established retail business in the West Midlands. The position requires managing supplier relationships, pricing, and profitability while conducting performance reviews to drive data-informed decisions. This is a hybrid role, requiring in-office presence one day a week. The contract is for six months, aimed at experienced buyers from various product sectors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Owning end-to-end category buying for a defined product range
- Managing supplier relationships, negotiations, and trading terms
- Leading pricing, margin management, and profitability across the category
- Running regular category and product performance reviews, using data to drive decisions
- Balancing commerciality with availability, reacting quickly to trading performance
- Working closely with merchandising, supply chain, and trading teams to maximise results
Key Skills:
- Proven experience as a Retail Buyer within product retail
- Strong commercial acumen with hands-on experience managing pricing and margins
- Confident dealing with suppliers and challenging on cost, terms, and performance
- Comfortable in a fast-paced retail environment with weekly/monthly trading rhythms
- Able to hit the ground running and add value quickly in an interim setting
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: West Midlands
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Retail
Interim Retail Buyer (Product) – 6 Month Contract
Location: West Midlands (hybrid) - Monday in the office + either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Contract: 6 months
Day rate: Dependent on experience
We’re supporting a well-established product-led retail business in the West Midlands that’s looking for an experienced Interim Retail Buyer to step in and take ownership of a key product category. This role is strictly product retail – ideal for Buyers from hard goods, FMCG, DIY, home, electrical, automotive, leisure or general merchandise.
What you’ll be doing
- Owning end-to-end category buying for a defined product range
- Managing supplier relationships, negotiations and trading terms
- Leading pricing, margin management and profitability across the category
- Running regular category and product performance reviews, using data to drive decisions
- Balancing commerciality with availability, reacting quickly to trading performance
- Working closely with merchandising, supply chain and trading teams to maximise results
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience as a Retail Buyer within product retail
- Strong commercial acumen with hands-on experience managing pricing and margins
- Confident dealing with suppliers and challenging on cost, terms and performance
- Comfortable in a fast-paced retail environment with weekly/monthly trading rhythms
- Able to hit the ground running and add value quickly in an interim setting
Why this role
- Genuine interim opportunity with clear ownership and impact
- Exposure to a commercial, product-driven retail business
- Competitive day rate dependent on experience
If you’re an interim Retail Buyer with strong product, pricing and margin experience and are open to a 6-month assignment in the West Midlands, get in touch with your CV, day rate and availability.