Job Introduction

Do you lead the way?

Are you a grafter?

Are you loyal?

If yes, read below to see how you could be a part of our story!

Welcome to Card Factory - and your opportunity to be part of our exciting future. As the country’s largest, independent gift and greetings card retailer with over 1000 stores, Card Factory is really thriving. As well as being a progressive, exciting and friendly company, we reward our people’s commitment and determination.

We are looking to strengthen our existing Commercial Team and are recruiting for a Head of Buying.

This role will be responsible for leading a team of senior professionals to create and execute a sourcing strategy across retail stores, working closely with online to drive future growth through product innovation and development

Role Responsibility

• Set and lead a challenging 5-year category and sourcing strategy with the leadership team to drive growth whilst supporting and complementing the long term strategic intent of the business;
• Develop a commercial and profitable range suitable to be traded across all channels of the business.
• Lead the sourcing strategy for both product and suppliers, taking a lead in supplier management to improve the trading position sustainably for a multichannel business;
• Monitor supplier performance, and ensure trading plans are met through supplier strategy;
• Keep in touch with market and consumer trends to ensure that the range is relevant and challenge the team to develop and source innovative and creative products relevant to our existing customer base but also appealing to a new demographic;
• Managing the supply base to maximise sales and margins, developing the ranges and driving continual growth, to ensure pricing is competitive and profitable;
• Liaising with the trading teams to make sure all products, ranges and promotions are planned and merchandised correctly;
• Reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of promotions, and range changes, taking appropriate action where necessary to improve performance;
• Stock management through pricing and promotion, utilising our replenishment model to drive availability;
• Lead complex negotiations to ensure optimum trading terms with new and existing suppliers;
• Completing regular competitor analysis to ensure our ranges and prices are in line with the current market;
• Ensure range and trade plans are maintained and delivered accurately and on time in line with the critical path;
• Motivate, coach, develop and lead a team of Buyers, to feed into the talent pipeline;
• Openly share knowledge and experience with the team to develop talent;
• Leadership of a group of senior professionals, and manage the team in respect of day to day management, recruitment, performance, and development to drive team performance.

The Ideal Candidate

• Be an existing Head of Buying and Leader in the Retail sector with a track record of management and delivery in a multichannel environment;
• Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal to interact with all teams and levels of the business;
• Have a good level of computer literacy - Microsoft Excel and Outlook are essential;
• Have experience operating at a senior level within buying - experienced Senior Buyers and Buying Managers who can demonstrate an experience in multichannel strategy and leadership will be considered;
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

About the Company

In return we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

• 25 holidays + 8 bank holidays
• Save as you Earn scheme
• 15% Staff Discount
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• O2 open mobile contracts
• Salary Finance
• Pension 
• Discounted Car Leasing
• Employee Care
• Flex My Day
• Card Factory Foundation
• MyCardFactory App: discounts at leading retailers

For this role we will also offer

• Private medical insurance
• Death in service benefit
• Eligibility for the Company bonus scheme
• A Company car

This role may involve out of hours and weekend working to support the business needs and the ideal candidate will hold a full clean driving license as travel between group sites will be required.

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

Visit our website to see the products we sell at https://www.cardfactory.co.uk/

For any questions email: vacancies@cardfactory.co.uk (we do not accept CVs/Applications via email) 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly. 

No agencies please.

Sportswift Ltd T/A cardfactory