Commercial Buyer

Role: Commercial Buyer

Reports to: Managing Director

Direct reports: None

Place of Work: This is a hybrid role with a minimum of two days a week in our offices in Bicester

Role summary:

This is a new and critical role in the business. The person will be responsible for supplier management, liaison with existing suppliers and finding new suppliers appropriate to the company’s five-year growth plan. You will oversee the company’s product portfolio, including commercial assessment of the existing range and securing new products that meet market trends, the requirements of our sales teams and customers.

This role will be at the forefront of sourcing within the business, working alongside our Master of Wine and Managing Director. You will help develop the portfolio to be the envy of the drinks trade and make us the ‘go to’ for our customers. In doing so you will liaise with the head of off and on trade to ensure their input is represented.

You will build first class relationships with our suppliers to help lead, shape and energise the company, and will deliver company and personal business goals.

You will help raise North South Wines profile and uphold the company mission, values and goals internally and externally.

The Mission

To champion better business in wine distribution by providing excellent customer service, investing in our workplace wellbeing, reducing our impact on the environment and nurturing strong partner relationships.

The Vision

To discover and distribute great value and quality wines that UK consumers will love in a way that upholds the commitments we have made to our partners, employees and our planet.

Our Values

Our values of Commitment, Tenacity, Collaboration, Courage and Integrity are at the core of our success, and these should be demonstrated in everything that you do.

Duties and responsibilities

Buying

• Product Range
  • Responsibility for sourcing the range from around the world ensuring it is
• relevant to market trends and company channel strategy.
  • Develop strategic plans which drive turnover and profit contribution in line with company plans, working cross functionally where possible
• Deliver a quality led portfolio that offers value within the NSW core range price points of £7-20.
• Strive to be at the forefront of innovation.
• Meet NSW’s B Corp/Sustainability targets by sourcing organic, biodynamic, ethical and sustainable wines, wherever appropriate.
• Negotiate cost prices and terms with suppliers
• Monitor range quality via regular tastings of the portfolio with other key roles in the business, notably heads of sales and MW.
• Lead quarterly range reviews to ensure range is rotating and poor performing products are delisted.
• Supplier Management
  • Responsibility for cultivating strong, long term supplier partnerships.
• Agree annual strategies with key suppliers (and sales targets where necessary) in line with NSW goals and supplier aspirations. Work with sales and marketing teams to ensure agreed targets are met.
• Keep supply partners abreast of market conditions and trends.
• Communicate annual sales targets and, where necessary, demand for production purposes.
• Report sales performance (against forecast where relevant).
• Support Operations Team to resolve supply issues.
• Work alongside Operations and Head of Technical to manage vintage change overs.
• Responsibility for ensuring Agency and Distribution Agreements are in place for key suppliers.
• Management of all SKU’s in the business to ensure new and current products are set up and maintained correctly.
• Responsibility for delivering the annual supplier survey and following up on results
• Be alert to possibilities for new agency acquisition, working alongside the Managing Director, Head of Sales and Master of Wine where appropriate.
• Manage the setting up of new supplier business including commercial, logistics and operations.

New Product Development

• Work with marketing to make suppliers aware of possible NPD opportunities/line extensions in line with market trends
• Develop new products for producer owned brands in conjunction with the producer. This will be alongside the brand manager for NSW and the supplier
• Ensure packaging for our range is regularly reviewed and upgraded when required and complies with our sustainability goals for bottle weights.

Sales Team

• Work with the sales team to identify new business opportunities, particularly for high margin products and own label.
• Work with Heads of Sales to arrange focused tastings including producer tastings as part of sales meetings.
• Attend/Support buyer meetings when needed with the sales team.
• Responsibility for launching and presenting new wine agencies to the sales team and wider company.
• Keeping the Sales Team abreast of wine supply conditions.
• Write annual vintage report.

Skills and experience

• Proven experience in a commercial buying environment
• First class influencing skills, able to motivate and manage others to achieve personal and collective goals
• Demonstrable experience of building and maintaining exceptional supplier relationships.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Team player able to break down barriers that get in the way of effective team working
• Strong communicator and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to challenge conventional thinking.
• A creative and proactive self-starter.

Your key behavioral characteristics

• I like to work in a positive team environment.
• I can tailor my communication for the audience.
• I enjoy talking to suppliers, customers and team members and working hard to exceed expectations.
• I embrace and drive change.
• I learn from my mistakes, own up to them and do things better next time.
• I am passionate, optimistic and determined.
• I have fun at work.

Other

A full driving license is essential as well as a willingness to travel and to be available at short notice from time to time. The Commercial Buyer will visit suppliers and customers and be in the office regularly. You need to be available for producer visits to the UK, and to visit producers in country when necessary. You will attend trade events and fairs in the UK and abroad from time to time.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

At North South Wines we believe in building more value together, we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we’re committed to building an inclusive, diverse community that celebrates and welcomes everyone based on merit. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status and any other characteristic protected by law. If there are any adjustments, we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support your application or assessment please let us know.