LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY – BUYING DIRECTOR EUROPE (LEADING HEALTH & BEAUTY RETAILER)

Job Title: Buying Director, Europe

Reporting To: Director - Western Europe

Location: Slough or Weybridge

Salary: £100,000–£120,000 (depending on experience)

Package: Car Allowance, Private Medical, Pension, Holiday Allowance, Product Discounts, Onsite Parking

Type: Full Time, Permanent (Hybrid: 3 office / 2 home)

Overview

We are seeking an ambitious and commercially astute Buying Director to lead and evolve our health & beauty buying strategy across Europe. With a remit spanning multiple international markets, this high-profile role offers the opportunity to shape the product vision, drive category growth, and strengthen supplier partnerships at scale.

As a key member of the leadership team, you’ll be responsible for creating a forward-thinking, trend-led product offering across own-label, branded, and exclusive ranges – ensuring we remain competitive and relevant in an ever-changing global retail environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and deliver the long-term European buying strategy across health, beauty, wellness, and personal care, in line with business growth objectives.
• Inspire, coach, and lead a high-performing buying team, fostering a culture of innovation, agility, and accountability.
• Develop differentiated category plans using insights, data, and European market trends to drive sales and margin growth.
• Own supplier relationships and sourcing strategies, building international partnerships that unlock exclusivity, innovation, and scale.
• Define promotional and pricing strategies that balance short-term trading success with sustainable long-term value.
• Partner closely with marketing, supply chain, digital, and finance to deliver seamless execution across all European channels.
• Influence at board level, providing commercial leadership and input into transformation and expansion initiatives.
• Be the customer champion, ensuring product ranges are trend-led, relevant, and aligned with evolving consumer needs across European markets.

Required experience and background

• Proven leadership in a senior buying or trading role – ideally within Health, Beauty, FMCG or Retail
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance vision with delivery, long-term growth with short-term results
• Strong supplier relationship and negotiation expertise, with experience driving large-scale joint business plans
• A track record of leading, developing and inspiring buying teams across multiple categories
• Highly analytical and confident using data to inform decisions and shape strategy
• Strong understanding of customer behaviour, category drivers and the competitive retail landscape
• A collaborative, influential leader, comfortable operating at senior executive level

This is a rare chance to shape the future of health and beauty retail during an exciting period of momentum and innovation. If you’re a strategic, commercially-minded leader ready to make a big impact – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today or reach out directly: tom.richards@harbourneassociates.com