Buyer (Sports Equipment)

Location: Wilks Ave, Questor, Dartford DA1 1JS, UK; onsite, full-time role

Company

Sports Directory, part of Frasers Group, supplies sports and physical education equipment to schools and operates within a global retail brand ecosystem.

What you will do

• Review sales, demand, seasonality, promotions, forecasts, stock levels, and outstanding orders to maintain product availability.
• Calculate stock requirements and place purchase orders based on lead times, order multiples, minimum order quantities, costs, and delivery schedules.
• Monitor incoming shipments, chase suppliers, confirm quantities and delivery dates, and address shortages, excess stock, slow-moving products, and quality issues.
• Maintain product records, pricing, specifications, descriptions, images, categories, discontinued lines, and replacement products.
• Build supplier relationships, negotiate costs and ordering arrangements, and hold reviews covering forecasts, availability, forward orders, and performance.
• Work with internal teams on range reviews, product sourcing, alternative suppliers, and commercial issues involving costs, prices, and margins.

Requirements

• Experience in buying, purchasing, replenishment, or stock planning for physical products.
• Experience reviewing forecasts, calculating stock requirements, placing purchase orders, and managing supplier delivery dates.
• Strong Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and sales and stock analysis.
• Experience with purchasing, inventory, ERP, or comparable systems and understanding of stock cover, lead times, costs, and margins.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail, prioritisation, communication, and supplier issue-resolution skills.
• Commercial judgement and confidence making decisions across a broad product portfolio.

Nice to have

• Product setup and maintenance experience in an ERP or PIM system.
• Experience with overseas suppliers, imported products, or long lead times.
• Experience with Sage Intacct, Netstock, sports equipment, education supplies, wholesale, distribution, or e-commerce.
• Interest in sport and understanding of schools’ equipment needs.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment within Frasers Group and its retail brand ecosystem.
• Peer-nominated Frasers Champion recognition programme with monthly awards.
• Head office employees spend one to two days each financial year in a store or warehouse to understand frontline operations.
• Free gym classes, discounted gym memberships, and access to the Frasers Fit wellbeing programme.
• Free Retail Trust support including a 24-hour wellbeing helpline, counselling, and financial and legal assistance.

Hiring process

• Initial recruiter interview focused on behaviour and alignment with company culture and values.
• One or two further interviews with the hiring manager or wider team, focused on technical experience.
• The process may include a presentation or practical task.