Catergory Buyer

Due to ongoing expansions in this leading Irish Electrical Retailer, an amazing opportunity has come up for a Category Buyer in a high commercial Buying Office. Reporting to the Purchasing Director the successful candidate will take full control of the category helping drive sales, profitability & innovation through effective leadership, analytically skills & passion for product.

Location: Fonthill

Reporting to: Purchasing Director

Department: Buying & Merchandising

Company Overview

We are a market-leading multi-vendor consumer electronics retailer and a well-established footprint across both physical and digital retail channels. We represent the world's leading consumer technology brands and cater to a broad spectrum of customer needs-from premium flagship products to essential everyday tech. As a business, we operate at the intersection of global innovation and fast-paced retail execution, and we are now seeking a strategic, commercially driven Category Buyer to own our Digital vendor management. Our vendor landscape includes tier-one brands such as Samsung, Garmin, HP, Lenovo, Asus, Canon and other category leaders across computing, mobile, and emerging tech. As we continue to expand our physical retail estate and digital offering, our Category Buyer will play a pivotal role in defining our commercial success.

Role Summary

The Category Buyer role is responsible for managing product procurement and supplier relationships. This leader will manage the retail purchasing, ensuring every euro spent drives profitability, strategic alignment, and long-term brand partnerships. This is a high-stakes, results-oriented role, it requires a deep understanding of the consumer electronics retail ecosystem, vendor funding models, in-season buying, and the nuances of omnichannel assortment planning. You will spearhead supplier negotiations, own the management of agreed trading terms, own the delivery and reconciliation of Marketing Development Funds (MDF), and ensure full rebate and credit note capture and payment. Your remit includes driving growth through effective buy planning, unlocking vendor support for marketing campaigns and retail activations, managing SKU lifecycle planning with precision, and working collaboratively across departments to execute high-impact commercial strategies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Purchasing and Product Buying Leadership

• Drive the purchasing strategy across Digital Categories-ensuring correct buy-in levels across peak and non-peak trading windows.
• Create and manage the master procurement calendar in alignment with promotional cycles, category-specific launch windows, and retail trading periods (e.g., Black Friday)
• Balance the mix of core lines, promotional SKUs, NPI (New Product Introductions), and EOL (End of Line) stock to maintain assortment freshness and margin strength.
• Create & develop category range plans on a store-by-store basis.
• Collaborate with merchandising, replenishment, and store ops to ensure stock allocation meets channel-specific performance and space planning needs.

2. Vendor Management and Commercial Relationship Development

• Act as the relationship owner for all strategic vendor accounts, negotiating best-in-class commercial terms including cost pricing, freight terms, overage commitments, co-op marketing, exclusivity clauses, and market development support.
• Lead quarterly and annual vendor reviews, tracking performance against commitments, resolving trading disputes, and adjusting terms to reflect changing market conditions.
• Unlock early access to product launches, negotiate retail exclusives, and secure priority allocation of constrained stock during high-demand periods.
• Drive alignment on sustainability goals, compliance, and ethical sourcing in line with vendor policies and corporate ESG objectives.

3. Marketing Development Funds (MDF) & Co-Funding Strategy

• Secure marketing contributions to fund above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) campaigns, in-store POS, digital media, CRM, and influencer partnerships.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to define campaign concepts that meet both commercial and brand KPIs while ensuring MDF is drawn down efficiently and compliantly.
• Implement best-in-class MDF tracking and reconciliation tools-ensuring every euro is claimed, recorded, and utilised within the valid window.
• Drive co-investment discussions for major retail milestones such as flagship store openings, rebrands, new category launches, and seasonal campaigns.

4. Rebates, Credit Notes, and Financial Tracking

• Drive vendor rebate negotiations including volume rebates, tiered growth incentives, sell-through accelerators, and promotional performance bonuses.
• Lead the financial tracking and recovery of vendor credit notes for RTV (Return to Vendor), price protection, stock ageing, and unsold promotional stock.
• Institute audit-ready compliance procedures for vendor funding agreements, reducing exposure to clawbacks or non-payment.

Essential Experience and Capabilities

• At least 5+ years of experience in high-level commercial, buying, or vendor management roles within high-volume consumer electronics retail or FMCG.
• Proven track record of owning multi million in direct spend and managing Tier 1 vendor portfolios across multiple categories.
• Deep understanding of Digital Category, lifecycle management, promotional planning, and stock risk management.
• Expertise in MDF, rebate structures, vendor contracts, exclusivity agreements, and seasonal buy cycles.
• Commercially numerate and highly analytical-able to interpret complex data and drive decisions that optimise profit and working capital.
• Outstanding negotiation and communication skills with the ability to influence at C-suite level, both internally and externally.
• Proficient in procurement platforms, ERP systems, Excel modelling, and BI tools.

Preferred Qualifications and Added Value

• Experience in a fast-paced, omnichannel retail environment with both physical stores and eCommerce.
• Track record of launching new brands/categories in-store and online.
• International vendor negotiation experience (EMEA/APAC/US).
• Experience with merchandise planning systems.
• Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Economics or related field; MBA preferred.