Head of Buying - Toys

Overview

In this senior role, you will set the long-term buying strategy for Toys and Nursery and lead a multi-level team to grow sales, profit and market share. You will shape customer-led ranges, align with the Merchandising function, and make commercial decisions across range, suppliers, pricing, and sourcing. You’ll manage high-value supplier relationships and oversee launches while collaborating across functions to drive channel performance. The role offers international exposure and a clear impact on the business’s category leadership and growth.

Pay / Benefits

• colleague discount (10% to Sainsbury's/Argos/Habitat after 4 weeks)
• pensions and life cover
• performance-related bonus up to 65% of salary
• annual holiday allowance with buy option
• private healthcare
• car allowance or company car option

Responsibilities

• Set long-term category strategy for Toys & Nursery and lead a multi-level buying team
• Shape customer-led ranges and create a clear product vision
• Make commercial decisions across range, suppliers, pricing, promotions, sourcing and investment
• Oversee launch milestones and monitor market/trend signals to improve channel performance
• Build senior relationships with global brands and own-brand manufacturers
• Negotiate with suppliers and develop strategic supplier business plans
• Collaborate with Technical, Product Development, Design, Digital, Marketing, Retail, Finance and Supply Chain
• Lead and develop teams with succession planning and performance development
• Engage with international suppliers and factories (3–5 overseas trips per year)
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders to align ambitious category plans

Key requirements

• Senior buying or product-led commercial leadership in a substantial retail or consumer environment
• Proven delivery of sales, profit, margin, or market-share improvements through range, pricing, promotions, sourcing or supplier strategies
• Experience leading complex negotiations and strategic relationships with senior suppliers or manufacturers
• Experience leading and developing multi-level teams with succession planning
• Ability to translate customer, market and trading data into strategy in a multi-channel environment
• Credible with senior suppliers and internal stakeholders; capable of high-value negotiations
• Toy-sector experience is valuable but candidates from other categories with breadth and leadership impact will be considered
• Strong collaboration across cross-functional teams and ability to drive alignment

• collaborative leadership
• strong influencing and stakeholder management
• strategic thinking and decisiveness
• category strategy
• multi-channel merchandising
• supplier relationship management

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