The Role
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers.  The ones that enable our growth.  That’s why our Commercial team is passionate about creating an environment where people can be creative and trailblazing in order to do their best work. 
As a Buyer (Grade D), you will drive the commercial performance of your category across all our formats. This role will be managing a category with scale and complexity, so you will need to have previous relevant commercial experience. You will be the key decision maker with the autonomy to deliver your category strategy.

What you will be doingDelivering and tracking against the key commercial KPI’s of sales and profitabilityCurating the optimum assortment for our customers that delivers on all our commercial targetsGenerating a continuous pipeline of value creating initiatives to deliver sales and profitabilityBeing responsible for the category and trade plan that aligns to the overarching business planNegotiating with and managing the supplier base, including a clear supplier strategy and the ongoing maintenance/improvement of termsDefining the pricing and promotional strategy for the categoryProduct/supplier sourcing & development in line with strategyDelivering projects and trials within your own area with cross functional engagementContributing to the annual budget building process
What we are looking forPrevious buying/commercial experience – necessaryComputer literate - experience using Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint)Great stakeholder management with the ability to communicate and influence effectivelyResilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environmentStrong commercial acumenNegotiation knowledge and skillsStrong numeracy skills and ability to analyse dataAbility to demonstrate problem solving skillsProactive and resourcefulGreat team playerHow we reward our teamsHybrid Working Model from home and in the office4pm Friday FinishFlexible Working25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday Family Friendly LeaveCompetitive Pension ContributionSharesave SchemeAnnual Bonus based on company and personal performanceCompetitive Salary and Car AllowancePrivate Medical Staff Discount Card for stores and onlineAbout us
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.
Our UK Travel office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.