Buying Team Assistant

We have an exciting opportunity for a Buying Team Assistant preferably with furniture or homewares experience to join our buying team. The role is based in our Swindon head office and is a fixed term maternity cover contract for 15 months.

As a Buying Team Assistant at Oak Furnitureland, you'll be responsible for supporting the Buying Team by providing comprehensive, timely and professional administrative support.

We are looking for someone who is organised and personable with an ability to multi-task to support a busy Buying team across all product categories.

The successful candidate will have strong administration skills, a knowledge of buying processes, excellent organisation and communication and a can-do positive attitude. Knowledge and ability to confidently use Excel, Powerpoint and Word is essential as is an ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time.

Key responsibilities:

• Responsible for creating, monitoring and maintaining a wide range of key documents to support the buying team.
• Providing comprehensive administrative support to the wider Commercial team.
• Managing the sample room (Mock Shop) and end to end sample process. Acting as a key contact for coordinating and tracking new product samples between the UK, Far East and Warehouse teams.
• Acting as a key coordinator between buying and marketing, managing the critical path dates and schedules to ensure samples are available for photography on time, chasing where necessary.
• Reviewing the market, conducting competitor analysis, consistently looking for trends and feeding this into the Buying Team.
• Supporting the Buying Team in daily tasks as requested

Skills and experience:

• A good working knowledge of buying processes/experience within a buying team
• Strong administration skills.
• Excellent organisation and communication.
• A proven track record for developing effective working relationships.
• Good competitor knowledge and understanding in both retail and online.
• The ability to prioritise effectively whilst working at pace.
• Excellent Microsoft Office and Powerpoint skills.
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving and provide resolution in a fast-paced environment.
• Working flexibly as part of the wider Commercial team

Benefits:

• Employee discount: amazing discounts available on all Oak Furnitureland products after successful completion of probation
• Life assurance: free cover of a minimum of two times your annual salary up to the age of 65
• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Birthday: an additional day off for you to celebrate your birthday
• Hybrid working
• Pension: 4% employee contribution matched by the company
• Employee Assistance Programme: gives all employees access to both telephone and face-to-face counselling services
• My Rewards Programme: offers discounts on everything from restaurants and supermarkets, to entertainment and holidays
• Free on-site parking