Buying Assistant - Harding : Job Details

Are you passionate about product and looking to start your career in Buying?

Can you work effectively as part of a team in a fast-paced environment, utilising strong planning, organisation, and interpersonal skills?

If so, the Buying Assistant vacancy here at Harding+ could be the perfect opportunity for you!

About the role:

As Buying Assistant, you will support the category Buyer in range selection, assortment planning and supplier meetings, as well as maintaining the systems data for your category.  You will represent your category and the company by maintaining positive relationships with suppliers, external contacts, and colleagues alike.

This is a great time to join our Buying team, with opportunity for growth and exposure to new and exciting projects across all categories in a global business.

The role is offered on a hybrid working basis, typically with 2-3 days per week in the office plus additional travel as required.

Compensation – competitive salary, bonus scheme, pension, 4 x life assurance, healthcare, 25 days

leave annually (including Christmas shutdown)

What you’ll be doing:

• Vendor Management – support the Buyer in liaising with all vendors, attending supplier meetings taking notes and ensuring actions are implemented and followed up.
• Range Management – support the Buyer with maintenance of the category range, obtaining samples necessary for range reviews, and updating critical paths and schedules for new product launches.  You will maintain all system data, ensuring accurate pricing and raising SKUs and POs promptly.  With support, you will develop and produce business reports as designated by the Buyer, whilst participating in weekly trade meetings to monitor the categories performance.
• Cross-functional working – work in partnership with teams across Merchandising, Marketing, Operations and Customer Service to ensure optimal category performance and guest experience

About you:

• Retail experience or exposure to buying in an FMCG environment would be advantageous
• A team player who relishes the opportunity of working within an entrepreneurial environment and delivering results against challenging targets
• Excellent and effective verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail is crucial
• High level of competence with the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Excel
• Structured planning, organisation, and time management skills essential, with the ability to work to own initiative
• Must have an existing right of eligibility to work in the UK

Key Attributes – trust, collaboration, respect, passion, drive, resilience

About us:

Harding+ is leading the way in innovative onboard cruise retailing, working closely with our cruise line partners and brand partners to ‘make every cruise better’.  We stay at the forefront of retailing and consistently provide outstanding customer service, culminating in winning the Cruise Retailer of the Year award for 2022 and 2023.

Harding+ is an equal opportunities employer.  We believe passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success, making recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills.  We value your passion to discover, invent, simplify, and build.  Protecting your privacy and the security of your data is a longstanding top priority for Harding+.

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