Category Buyer Job Description
Category buyer
provides support to the procurement manager and wider category team in delivering against procurement & supply chain strategies for a specific spend category and business areas.
Category Buyer Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective category buyer job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included category buyer job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
Develop merchandise and build line structure, which supports Sears all channel marketing plans (Catalogue,Retail, Internet) and fulfills the corporate guidelines re opportunities for Good/Better/best, trade upphilosophy, value strategy, seasonal/continuous/fashion blend, product exclusivity, first to market, and innovative product
Responsible for executing private label product development and selecting branded merchandise to support financial goals
Develop a merchandising strategy and plan for the shop, consistent with the corporate merchandising strategy product excellence, destination and complementary businesses and vendor rationalization
Respond to product and brand priorities as established by General Merchandise Manager to support competitive advantage and productivity
Source the product (consistent with Sears corporate sourcing strategy for domestic and imports) and negotiate with suppliers the best possible terms and conditions to achieve business goals
Accountable for detailed accuracy and completeness of product information required for item set-up (EIW)
Travel where required
Lead commercial negotiations with the related suppliers
Working with the Marketing & Merchandising team to procure Retail fixtures/POS/POP material/ marketing services, to support the Sales and Marketing strategy
Challenge, improve or develop a long term vision of the supplier portfolio strategy
Category Buyer Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Licensing or Certifications for Category Buyer
List any licenses or certifications required by the position: CPIM, C.P.M, CPSM, CPM, APICS, CIPS, PMI, PMP, CSCP, CIRM
Education for Category Buyer
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the category buyer job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Engineering, Business, Business/Administration, Supply Chain Management, Management, MBA, Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, Technical
Skills for Category Buyer
Desired skills for category buyer include:
Manufacturing
Local and global market trends
Procurement principles and processes advanced negotiation and analytical skills
Relevant global supply markets
Supply Chain and Category Strategies
Contract law
Product
SAP
Strong customer care focus
Competitor analysis
Desired experience for category buyer includes:
Is able to operate autonomously to drive projects
Aligns cross functional teams (Planning and Inventory, Space Planning, ) as it relates to buying, inventory strategies, and weekly/monthly performance reviews (OTB)
Responsible for the adhering to the promotional event calendar, as developed by Marketing, for all channels and accountable for calendar management for the pod team
Proficient of Microsoft Word and Excel
Kodiak, Manhattan Merchandise Planning (MAP), Surdell
Manages the Suppliers within the respective category (change management, contract negotiations, payment queries, supplier classifications, supplier management, supplier phase out)
Category Buyer Examples
1
Category Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is searching for experienced candidates for the position of category buyer. Please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications. While this is our ideal list, we will consider candidates that do not necessarily have all of the qualifications, but have sufficient experience and talent.
Responsibilities for category buyer
- Supplier Relationship Management process – to optimize and improve Quality, Delivery, Cost and product development
- Exposure to strategy development is desirable, with experience in contracts and negotiations and industrial manufacturing environments
- Procure and manage regional and/ or category service contracts including negotiation of pricing and service levels with selected contractors within each category/ region
- Design specialized / localized contracts where necessary, revise existing contracts as needed, respond to quality management issues on behalf of line management, and define policies, regulations and contractual procedures for day to day operations of line management
- Receive the needs for products and service from Sales, Marketing and EBU team
- Issue Requests for Quotations for the selection of suppliers for needed products and services
- Ensure the best cost modelling (considering total cost ownership) and negotiations for each purchase project
- Ensure an efficient Supply plan (no out of stock )
- Monitor the Purchase Requisition and Purchase Order progress within the Requesting Department
- Identify delays, resolve or escalate them to right line manager if necessary
Qualifications for category buyer
- Procurement technical skills
- Working knowledge of company information and data systems used by Procurement
- Effective participation in multi-functional work-projects and cross-functional teams in an international environment
- Understanding of general finance, continuous improvement, contractual terms and conditions, and how to mitigate risk
- Ideally previous IT Procurement experience of approx
- Minimum 6 years purchasing/procurement experience in retails/FMCG/merchandising
2
Category Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is looking to fill the role of category buyer. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for category buyer
- Records cost savings realized on a monthly basis
- Manage supplier relationships effectively including
- Develop Catalogue and/or Retail Marketing and Merchandising Plan, line reviews to deliver business goals
- Analyze sub- team performance at a shop/line level to determine potential areas of future improvement
- Provide leadership and direction to staff reporting, including participating in resource planning, recruitment, performance management, Work with sub-team members individually to ensure clarity with respect to their accountabilities and authorities to ensure achievement of the shop and category goals
- Ensure that the category is always striving for a market leading range
- Establish credible relationships with suppliers to ensure the best cost, best supply and best delivery for our customers
- Be aware of the market place activity and innovations
- Working side by side with the merchandisers to ensure all metrics are hit across sales and stock
- Good commercial awareness and appreciation of customer needs
Qualifications for category buyer
- 2-5 years procurement experience, preferably in the commercial real estate industry
- Knowledge of procurement practices such as competitive bidding process
- Understanding of market conditions for real estate service sectors
- University education (a focus in business, finance or accounting is preferred) and / or industry specific accreditation (BOMA, PMAC, IFMA)
- Demonstrated financial analysis abilities
- Experience managing spending in excess of $500K
3
Category Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of category buyer. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for category buyer
- Use MRP to maintain proper inventory levels
- Must have a BS/BA
- Seeking candidates with a minimum of 3-5 years of working experience
- Exposure to strategy development is desirable
- Participate in rate negotiations, contract / agreement / PO preparation, Invoice Management
- Ensure optimal sourcing decisions by administering a bidding process for the purpose of securing items and services within budget and in compliance with the defined requirements
- Ensure that the business consequences of these sourcing decisions are transparent for all stakeholders
- Develop a sourcing strategy within a certain category by performing cost analysis, scenario analysis, appropriately assessing the buyer-supplier powerbalance and forecasting impact of price trends on future activities
- Lead strategic sourcing activities across all I.T spend
- Support the Senior Buyer in implementation of the I.T category plan
Qualifications for category buyer
- Fluent with multiple contractual models
- Experience purchasing services a definite asset
- Familiarity with e-procurement / e-sourcing applications an asset
- Familiarity and clear understanding of market areas related to specific work categories IT/Office/Business
- Has demonstrated successful use of Total Cost Ownership analysis, risk management, responsible sourcing and supplier relation management
- Has successfully negotiated/ led project in cross functional teams
4
Category Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of category buyer. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for category buyer
- Carry out regular supplier review meetings with key IT providers
- Hold a relevant business degree or equivalent experience
- Be a member/studying towards CIPS
- Have previous experience in negotiating contractual terms and conditions
- Be a highly results orientated individual (proven track record of exceeding targets)
- Manage the supplier selection process with a cross functional mindset
- Evaluate, negotiate and maintain the sourcing parameters
- Manage contracts and agreements
- Set up and maintain correct sourcing/purchasing parameters in the system
- Pro-active work to limit supply deviation
Qualifications for category buyer
- Bachelor level business degree is required
- Preference towards Procurement or Supply Chain skill set
- 1-5 years business experience with preference towards Procurement, InDirect Procurement categories, analytics
- CPM or equivalent certifications a plus
- Strong analytical skills to analyze sales, inventory planning, and complete market research
- Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
5
Category Buyer Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is hiring for a category buyer. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for category buyer
- Knowledge of the Integrated Management System and observe its processes & requirements
- BS/BA, preferably in engineering, marketing, supply chain or related field
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering/Operations and/or Sales and Marketing
- Quality - incorporating responsibility for new parts first off availability and initial sample inspection report, driving forward quality PPM improvements and PPAP/APQP compliance, supporting supplier quality clinics where appropriate
- Manage the enterprise global category for seats and glass
- Develop and implement worldwide seat and glass sourcing strategies
- Meet all Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) metric goals
- Develop, mentor and train personnel capable of delivering the global seat and glass strategy
- Run RFI/RFP events
- Investigate, develop and instigate framework agreement improvements, to create lasting benefits to the Kier business
Qualifications for category buyer
- Thorough knowledge on procurement process
- Should be a team player and motivator to other members of the team
- Must be self-aware, strong collaborator and have strong leadership skills
- Understanding of, and strong commitment to ethical procurement behaviours
- Demonstrated theoretical/practical knowledge related to marketing and an entrepreneurial spirit
- Demonstrated ability to coach and positively lead others