Junior Buyer - Contract - Johannesburg
Are you a commercially minded Buyer with a passion for sourcing innovative products and building strong supplier partnerships? Join a dynamic retail environment where your expertise will directly influence product ranges, customer experience, and business growth.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Buyer to take ownership of food, beverage, and boutique product categories across a diverse retail portfolio. Working closely with senior leadership, you will shape buying strategies, identify market opportunities, and ensure product ranges remain competitive, profitable, and aligned to customer needs. The role is primarily home-based with occasional travel to offices and suppliers as required.
You will play a key role in driving category performance through market analysis, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration. Success in this position requires a balance of commercial acumen, analytical thinking, and the ability to build lasting relationships both internally and externally.
Our client is a well-established organisation operating within the retail and travel services sector, recognised for delivering quality products and exceptional customer experiences across multiple markets. The business values innovation, agility, and a collaborative approach to achieving sustainable growth.
What You'll Do
- Develop and execute buying strategies for assigned product categories
- Identify new product opportunities and monitor market trends
- Conduct regular trade analysis to achieve sales and profitability targets
- Manage key supplier relationships and negotiate commercial agreements
- Contribute to range planning and category frameworks
- Collaborate with technical and operational teams to ensure compliance and seamless product launches
- Support the development of buying policies, procedures, and systems
- Mentor and develop junior buying team members where applicable
- Participate in weekly planning and alignment meetings to ensure key deliverables are achieved
What You Bring
- Degree qualification or equivalent experience
- Minimum 3 years' experience in a Buyer role
- Proven experience driving continuous improvement initiatives
- Strong understanding of buying best practices and supplier management
- Excellent financial, analytical, and commercial skills
- Ability to interpret legal agreements and commercial contracts
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business management systems
- Experience in travel retail, airline, or food and beverage sectors will be advantageous
- Ability to lead, mentor, and develop junior team members
What Success Looks Like
- Product categories consistently achieve sales and profitability targets
- Supplier partnerships deliver strong commercial outcomes
- Product ranges remain relevant, innovative, and aligned to customer demand
- Buying processes are efficient and continuously improved
- Cross-functional projects are delivered seamlessly and on time
- Junior team members are effectively supported and developed
