Head of Buying

Cork
Permanent
Full-time

17 days ago

An established and forward-thinking retailer is seeking an experienced Head of Retail Buying to lead their procurement strategy across a large retail network. This is a senior leadership role reporting into the Head of Revenue & Commercial and plays a pivotal part in shaping the product offering, supplier partnerships, and buying performance within the hard goods retail category.This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially driven procurement leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and is passionate about building strong teams, delivering customer value, and driving business growth.Key Responsibilities:

Design and deliver category buying strategies that drive commercial performance and long-term value.
Lead and develop a high-performing team of buyers, providing mentorship, setting clear KPIs, and ensuring continuous improvement.
Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships to secure quality products at the best value, supporting innovation and business goals.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including merchandising, retail operations, e-commerce, finance, and marketing to align procurement activity with customer experience and business strategy.
Monitor supply chain trends, market pricing, and supplier performance to identify cost-saving opportunities and optimise sourcing.
Manage purchase order and procurement processes to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
Oversee stock and inventory levels to balance availability with cost efficiency.
Conduct regular supplier reviews and implement corrective actions where necessary.
Ensure full compliance with industry regulations, internal policies, and sustainability standards.
Present purchasing performance updates, reports, and forecasts to the senior leadership team.

What You'll Need:

Minimum 10 years' experience in a senior buying/procurement role, preferably within a retail, agribusiness, or FMCG environment.
Proven leadership and people management capabilities, including coaching, development, and performance oversight.
Commercially astute with a strong track record of delivering margin and revenue growth.
Excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
Solid understanding of category management, supply chain operations, and procurement best practices.
Strategic thinker with strong analytical, decision-making, and stakeholder management abilities.
Proficiency in digital tools and systems used in modern procurement functions.
Degree qualified in business, supply chain, procurement or a related discipline.

Key Competencies:

Strategic and commercial acumen
Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
Results-driven with a solutions mindset
Leadership and team development focus
Risk management and compliance awareness
Digital fluency in procurement technologies

Morgan McKinley

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