Purchaser / Negotiator

Company Description: The Garden Centre Group Co-op is a collaborative organization that supports independently owned garden centres through shared purchasing power and supplier relationships.
Core Responsibilities:
Negotiation & vendor management
• Own the negotiation of price, discount tiers, rebates, early-buy terms, freight, payment terms, returns and marketing/program funds across all 241 vendors.
• Segment the vendor base — a critical top tier managed intensively, a long tail managed by exception — and set a call/visit cadence accordingly.
• Run structured annual line reviews with key vendors; benchmark competing suppliers; consolidate volume where it strengthens leverage without harming member choice.
• Adapt approach by vendor type: program and rebate engineering with multinationals; reliability, terms and partnership with family suppliers.
Green goods & hardgoods breadth
• Hardgoods: pottery, soils and amendments, fertilizers and chemicals, tools, irrigation, hard landscape, décor, seasonal and giftware.
• Green goods: manage early-order programs, availability and crop commitments; buy for quality ,best price for size, establish 1st to introduce new plant program, create contracted grower program, coordinate with growers and the green goods chair.
Analysis, systems & reporting
• Track spend, savings, cost-avoidance, rebate accrual and program participation; ( with support from the GCGC office ); report results to the Board each quarter.
• Maintain clean vendor and SKU data and seasonal demand with the category chairs.
• Watch input-cost trends and vendor price-increase announcements, and get ahead of them.
Required Qualifications:
5+ years in buying, procurement or category management, with a real negotiation track record
Demonstrated hardgoods buying strength
Strong analytics (Excel; ERP/purchasing systems)
Excellent relationship and communication skills (Proficient in English)
Preferred Qualifications:
Garden-centre, nursery, horticulture or DIY/home experience
Working knowledge of green goods / plant material/ SCMP or equivalent (or willingness to earn it)
Experience in a co-op, buying group or GPO

Work arrangement
Yes