At Dreams, we know your bed is the best place in the whole world. But for the hours between precious sleep, we`d like to make work a special place to be too. We`re the UK`s most loved bed retailer, so it`s important our people feel the love as well. There`s over 250 of us at our affectionally named `Bedquarters` in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where every dreamer makes a difference.
We`re super passionate about our people-first culture, which means we like to keep things simple and celebrate every success, big or small! From a payday treats trolley to charity fundraisers and all-staff lunches, we know we do it best when we do it together.
And together we`ve been making bedtimes better since 1985, with no signs of hitting the snooze button. We`re owned by the world`s largest bedding provider, Tempur Sealy, and have our very own Bed Factory right here in the UK. You`ll even get a guided tour when you join - that`s part of our mission to get you fully bed-ucated during your induction.
With 208 stores nationwide, 6 central warehouses and 12 delivery centres, we sell 14,000 mattresses, bases and headboards every single week. Now that`s a lot of Zzzs.
So if you`re bonkers about bed, silly for siestas and keen on your kip, we think Dreams could be the perfect place for you.
Dreams. Love your job.
What you`ll be doing day-to-day
Strategy
-Develop and implement buying strategies in line with organisational goals, strategies and market trends.
-Identify opportunities for cost savings, product quality improvement.
-Plan and deliver new product development showcase demonstration for retail and other business unit colleagues.
Product and Vendor Management
-Lead complex negotiations with suppliers to secure favourable terms and conditions.
-Manage international and domestic sourcing strategies.
-Work closely with Dreams Bed Factory on development and quality of products
-Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure reliable and cost-effective sources of goods.
-Review and analyse range plans to reflect changing trends, new product development and customer insight.
-Work closely with the technical and ethical team to reduce the defective rate of products and compliance across the supply base
Leadership
-Working with the head of merchandising, manage and execute the Dreams product strategy which will deliver against budgeted sales, margin, net profit and working capital targets.
-Provide strong leadership to the buying team, setting clear goals and expectations.
-Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the buying department.
-Collaborate with other departments to understand their purchasing needs and integrate buying strategies accordingly.
-Ensure seamless communication and cooperation between the buying team and other business units.
-Continuously optimize buying processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
Finance
-Seek new business opportunities to enhance EBITDA.
-Identify and mitigate risks associated with the supply chain and purchasing activities.
-Conduct thorough cost analyses to identify areas for improvement and implement cost-saving initiatives.
-Management of department P+L, contracts and ad-hocs
Compliance and Risk Management
-Ensure compliance with procurement regulations and internal policies.
-Ensure activities meet and comply with organisational and legal requirements for Health and Safety and general care.
-Represent the organisation in the industry and report back industry findings
This is the type of person we`re dreaming of:
-Proven experience in a leadership role within the buying function (gained in a fast-paced environment, ideally within Retail.)
-Exceptional negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to secure advantageous terms with suppliers.
-Strategic ability to develop a business/product area.
-International sourcing experience
-Excellent leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.
-Excellent communication skills - Be able to present back high-level information to senior leaders
-Strong financial acumen
-In-depth knowledge of procurement regulations and industry best practices.
-Ability and confidence to build collaborative relationships across all levels of the business and ability to demonstrate effective influencing skills.
In your dream role, you`ll also receive:
- Bonus: Our discretionary annual bonus scheme recognises the hard work and dedication of our superstar dreamers.
- Discounts: Amazing staff discount on Dreams products, plus hundreds of brands including restaurants, holidays, and shopping.
- Buy-in schemes: You`ll have the opportunity to buy extra holiday, private healthcare, or savings and loans.
- Parking: We know it goes without saying, but our free onsite parking gives you peace of mind when you travel.
- Wellbeing: We partner with the Retail Trust to offer a 24-hour helpline with a variety of support services, as well as hosting an out of hours GP service.
- Electric Car Scheme - Our salary sacrifice eclectic car scheme is a budget friendly way to cruise around in style and most importantly, lower those emissions!
- New to 2024 - enhanced maternity & paternity pay
- On-site gym, Step into our newly refreshed, free on-site gym, where you`ll find everything you need to stay fit and energized. From cardio machines and versatile free weights to dynamic cable machines, resistance bands, and even boxing bags - we`ve got it all!
- Hybrid working: Whether you`re an early bird or night owl, we trust you to work your hours responsibly to suit you!