Category Buyer

The Body Shop

When Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in 1976, she had a vision. Business as a force for good – that’s us. Over 40 years later, we’re proud to be pioneering cruelty-free beauty every step of the way. We’re the original ethical beauty brand. We’ve got a thing for empowering people and enriching our planet. We’re all about keeping it real, in every way possible. Our activist roots remain a huge part of everything we do, from our iconic window posters to our vegetarian products to our infamous campaigns. We’re never afraid to stand up and speak the truth. We like to do things a little differently around here. 

The Body Shop is committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact. We’re fighting for what we believe in now more than ever. No holding back. Breaking the mould has always come naturally to us, and we need someone who’s not afraid to mix things up. 

Your role in a nutshell

The Category Buyer reports to the Category Lead and plays a pivotal role in developing and executing sourcing strategies that meet our business needs. This position collaborates across the organisation to enhance our competitive edge by securing access to innovation, best-cost solutions, favourable commercial terms, and strategic supplier relationships. The role also partners with cross-functional teams to ensure sourcing strategies are aligned with business objectives, driving continuous improvement in sourcing performance and processes — ultimately contributing to sustainable, profitable growth.

More about the role

You will be responsible for the Sourcing activities to manage our core product portfolio as well as new product developments including:

• Category management

• Help define & implement supplier strategy for finished goods categories such as Skincare or Bath & Body

• Commercially control spend within your specific remit, working creatively and in a SMART way to reduce both overall costs whilst increasing efficiency

• Identifying and delivering cost saving and value creation opportunities through negotiations, resourcing, tendering activity.

• Manage cost forecasts, share & control assumptions for budget construction, maintain data up to date for financial trends & Budget, report on KPI.

• Working up feasibility costs for new products to ensure commercial viability

• Present and update cross functional teams in meetings on the status of projects

• Keep up to date on market trends and cost impacts which could affect costs for products within remit

• Supplier relationships management

• Identify and evaluate suppliers; select, approve and review supplier performance, lead supplier development efforts on all aspects of the value chain: costs, agility, ethics, innovation, sustainability & quality.

• Manage sourcing negotiations and contract management negotiations: from RFQ/RFP to delivery of the product

• Working closely with suppliers to bring creative and innovative solutions back to our teams

• Corporate representative for an expanding number of incumbent and new suppliers.

• Fostering a collaborative working environment across internal and external cross teams

• Ensures procurement and ethical protocols are documented and followed. 

What we look for

Previous experience in a sourcing/manufacturing/technical buying environment with proven project implementation skills within a cross functional organisation

Experience of supplier performance evaluation, supplier selection & supplier relationship management.

Experience of sourcing processes, data management & contract management

Excellent interpersonal skills including strong cultural awareness with the ability to develop and maintain strong effective relationships

Strong Microsoft Excel skills (formulas, tables, etc) essential

Knowledge of Health & Beauty industry highly desirable

Competencies:

• Strategic sourcing and analytical

• Commercial acumen

• Stakeholder and supplier Management

• Resilience

• Curious and solutions orientated

Skills:

• Negotiation

• Spend Analysis

• Cost modelling

• Clear Communication

• Contract Management

• Operational & Process skills

• Cross functional Collaboration

• Risk Management

• Managing E2E RFQ /RFP process

• Attention to detail

• Data analysis

• Excel & Reporting Tools

• Microsoft office

• AI Curious

Talent Drivers

Leadership

Purpose

Collaborative Skills

Personal Conduct

Commerciality