Assistant Buyer - Books

Assistant Buyer (Books)
Swindon (3 days per week and 2 from home)

Job Description:
There is an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Buyer to join our High Street books team at our head office in Swindon.

The main purpose of this role is to work alongside the Books Buyer, supporting the management and delivery of the strategy for the category, providing data insight and analysis on range performance and helping to facilitate the promotional plans.
This is a great opportunity start your buying career, to learn and develop within one of the leading buying teams in the Books industry.

The Accountabilities:

• Assisting the buyer to generate new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income
• Supporting management of the Richard & Judy Book Club
• Managing effective relationships with suppliers
• Keeping abreast of market trends and competitor activity in a fast-paced environment, to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering
• Ensuring the smooth running of promotions and complying with promotional deadlines
• Taking accountability and supporting the team on various projects

• Enthusiastic and excited about books
• Excellent organisational skills
• Strong ability to prioritise own workload
• Proven ability to work within a team
• Net understanding of business (i.e. buying and stock)
• Excellent numerical and analysis capability
• PC literate and confident in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel and Office
• Ideally educated to degree-level or equivalent

• Annual bonus based on company performance
• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Finish at 4pm on a Friday
• Competitive pension scheme
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About Us
WHSmith is a leading, global travel retailer with a smaller business located on UK high streets. Since 1792, we’ve grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. Today, we have more than 1700 stores in over 30 countries across the globe, serving millions of customers every year, and you’ll find us at airports, railway stations, hospitals and on the high street.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, colour, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, and basis of disability. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.