Category Buyer

At JDP, we are the experts in civils drainage and water management. For over half a century we’ve been combining quality products, knowledgeable staff, dedicated delivery, a national branch network and technical assistance to be the one-stop shop for our customers. We continue to experience remarkable growth and stability, and this is thanks to our unwavering commitment to excellent customer service and robust business strategy. Following fantastic results in 2024 and a record breaking 2025 we continue to go from strength to strength. Our people are at the heart of our operations, and we pride ourselves on being a great company to work for. There has never been a better time to join us!

Are you ready to shape the future of our product offering and play a pivotal role in driving JDP’s commercial success? Flexible / Hybrid working following successful probation period.

• A Category Buyer will manage many aspects of the procurement and supply chain process including compliance, quality, specifications, deliveries, and pricing. Relationships with suppliers and product range management will be a key part of their duties in order to successfully manage a group or category of products for JDP from cradle to grave.

  They will be responsible for cooperating with stakeholders to provide a coherent sourcing, pricing, and promotional mix of a product category to maximise customer appeal. The goal is to increase sales and profitability of the business and drive sustainable growth through optimising opportunities in sourcing and selling products that meet customer needs and align with JDP’s strategic aims.

  Ideally, an experienced category buyer must have knowledge in managing supplier relationships and the civils and drainage environment. In this role the ability to work with stakeholders to link supplier products and customer needs to optimise opportunities is crucial, for which an appropriate amount of travel may be required. 

Key duties and responsibilities

• Manage master data for suppliers, products and purchasing within a category.
• Produce and review purchasing forecasts in line with annual budgets and market information.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities for buying, sales and margin improvements.
• Contribute to long-term development strategies for product categories through all JDP customer segments and channels.
• Carry out range reviews to identify the best suppliers for our product requirements and negotiate the best deal.
• Build trusting relationships with suppliers to achieve better pricing and quality of service based on JDP being the best route to market for their products.
• Manage supplier information and required documentation for compliance, quality and specifications, to ensure smooth trading.
• Develop exit strategies with stakeholders for unsuccessful products and work with inventory to keep provisioned stock in line with budgets.
• Contribute to range strategies for the products within the category, including what will be stocked where and in what quantities.
• Work with stakeholders to build merchandising plans for products.
• Work with Category Manager and marketing teams to develop promotional campaigns for a product category.
• Make forecasts for product demand to ensure the sustainability of inventory.
• Assume responsibility for overseeing budget development and revenue for category.
• Liaise with line manager to maximise all commercial opportunities.   

You will come to us with:

• Proven experience as category buyer or similar role.
• Experience in managing product categories and suppliers.
• Solid knowledge of buying, marketing and sales principles.
• Excellent communication and people skills.
• Extensive experience of the civils and drainage market would be desirable.                                 

Key skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate with a range of stakeholders, including suppliers to ensure JDP is the best route to market for their products.
• Proactive and driven to overcome obstacles to deliver success through creative thinking and good stakeholder collaboration.
• Good understanding of buying, marketing and sales principles.
• Understanding and use of data analysis and forecasting methods.
• Good negotiation skills to ensure the right products for our markets are sourced at the right price.
• Project planning and organisational skills along with requisite IT skills, including proficiency in MS Office, in particular Microsoft Excel, Phocas and SAP systems.
• The ability to work as part of a team whilst also being able to take ownership of projects as required.

Benefits

• Enjoy a long-term career with a stable and growing UK company, proudly owned by a global group.
• Receive a competitive salary that reflects your skills and contributions.
• Benefit from a monthly bonus scheme that rewards the team's dedictation.
• Secure your future with our contributory pension scheme.
• Access full support and training to help you thrive in your role.