With more than 50 years of expertise in drainage and water management JDP is more than a merchant. JDP combine quality products, stock in-depth, knowledgeable staff, dedicated delivery and technical assistance to be the one-stop shop.  On top of that, we are a great company to work for!

• Flexible / Hybrid working following successful probation period.

A Category Buyer will manage many aspects of the procurement and supply chain process including compliance, quality, specifications, delivery and price. Relationships with suppliers and product range management will be a key part of their duties in order to successfully manage a group or category of products for JDP from cradle to grave.

They will be responsible for cooperating with stakeholders to provide a coherent sourcing, pricing and promotion mix of a product category to maximise customer appeal, as guiding by JDPs strategic aims.

The goal is to increase sales and profitability of the business and drive sustainable growth through optimising opportunities in sourcing and selling products that meet customer needs and align with JDP’s strategic aims.

An excellent category buyer must have experience in managing supplier relationships and the civils and drainage environment. In this particular role the ability to work with stakeholders to link supplier products and customer needs to optimise opportunities is crucial, for which an appropriate amount of travel will be required.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Manage master data for suppliers, products and purchasing within a category.
• Produce and review purchasing forecasts in line with annual budgets and market information.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities for buying, sales and margin improvements.
• Contribute to long-term development strategies for product categories through all JDP customer segments and channels.
• Carry out range reviews to identify the best suppliers for our product requirements and negotiate the best deal.
• Build trusting relationships with suppliers to achieve better pricing and quality of service based on JDP being the best route to market for their products.
• Manage supplier information and required documentation for compliance, quality and specifications, to ensure smooth trading.
• Develop exit strategies with stakeholders for unsuccessful products and work with inventory to keep provisioned stock in line with budgets.
• Contribute to range strategies for the products within the category, including what will be stocked where and in what quantities.
• Work with stakeholders to build merchandising plans for products.
• Work with Category Manager and marketing teams to develop promotional campaigns for a product category.
• Make forecasts for product demand to ensure the sustainability of inventory.
• Assume responsibility for overseeing budget development and revenue for category.

You will come to us with:

• Proven experience as category buyer or similar role.
• Experience in managing product categories and suppliers.
• Solid knowledge of buying, marketing and sales principles.
• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Extensive experience of the civils and drainage market.

• Key skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including suppliers to ensure JDP is the best route to market for their products.
• Proactive and driven to overcome obstacles to deliver success through creative thinking and good stakeholder collaboration.
• Good understanding of buying, marketing and sales principles.
• Understanding and use of data analysis and forecasting methods.
• Good negotiation skills to ensure the right products for our markets are sourced at the right price.
• Project planning and organisational skills along with requisite IT skills, including proficiency in MS Office, in particular spreadsheets, and SAP.

Benefits

• Long term career with a globally owned group
• Competitive salary
• Contributory pension scheme
• Staff discount

If you are interested in becoming part of this exciting journey, please apply!