Job Title: Buyer

Department: Retail and Licensing

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Attractive Remuneration Package depending on experience

Location: BMH Training Ground, Birmingham

Closing Date: Sunday 23 February 2025

Interview Date: March 2025

1. The Department

At Aston Villa Football Club, our Retail and Licensing department plays a vital role in supporting the club's commercial success and fan engagement. We take pride in offering a wide variety of high-quality football merchandise and leisurewear to our supporters, both online and in-store, while maintaining a strong connection to our brand and culture. As the Club grows, we are expanding our team to enhance the product offering and ensure we continue delivering an exceptional customer experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an innovative department that works collaboratively to bring our fans closer to the Club through the products they love.

2. The Role

Aston Villa FC are seeking an experienced and passionate Buyer to join our growing Retail team. In this key role, you will be responsible for sourcing, selecting, and purchasing football-related merchandise and leisurewear, ensuring that we stay ahead of market trends and continue to deliver exciting and relevant products to our fans. You will play a crucial part in negotiating with suppliers, managing inventory, and ensuring that stock levels are aligned with demand and seasonal events.

A typical day will involve collaborating with a range of stakeholders across the club, including our marketing and merchandising teams, to plan for new product launches, seasonal promotions, and special club milestones. You will manage the end-to-end purchasing process from sourcing products and negotiating terms to managing stock levels and ensuring timely delivery. You will also be involved in analysing sales data to ensure our products are meeting customer expectations and driving profitability.

The role also offers an exciting opportunity to be part of key projects tied to club events, new kit launches, and special promotions. You will ensure that merchandise aligns with our financial goals, working within budgetary constraints while maximising value for our fans.

For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

3. The Person

To be considered for the role, you will need to have proven experience in retail buying, preferably within the football industry or a similar retail environment. You will need to have strong negotiation skills and a solid understanding of the impact of margins on profitability. The ability to analyse sales trends and make data-driven decisions is key to this role, along with the ability to effectively manage multiple stakeholders.

You must be highly organised, self-motivated, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you will be interacting with various internal and external teams, including suppliers and senior management. Experience with inventory management systems and forecasting techniques is desirable.

As part of a team with a shared passion for the club, we’re looking for someone who is creative, adaptable, and can bring fresh ideas to the table. A genuine passion for football and an understanding of fan culture will help you succeed in this role.

You will have access to a vehicle and / or the ability to travel between our Club sites; Villa Park, London Office and Bodymoor Heath Training Ground

4. Why join us?

There has never been a better time to join us, we are celebrating our 150th anniversary, showcasing Aston Villa Football Club in all its glory to a global audience, and are determined to continue our growing success, both on and off the pitch. We currently offer a range of fantastic benefits* including:

• Offers on tickets for Men and Women’s matches (subject to match and ticketing arrangements)
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free car parking
• Free staff breakfast and lunches
• Club Shop discount
• adidas discount
• Travel discount
• Death in service benefit
• Free Will writing
• Free mortgage and insurance broker consultations
• Free eye tests
• Mobile network discounts
• Gym discount

*Please note these are subject to change at any time

As part of your application, please ensure you upload your CV and Cover Letter.

As part of your application, you will be asked to:

1. Upload your CV

2. Answer the following question:

a) Please outline your key skills, qualities and experience which make you the ideal candidate for this role (400 words maximum)

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early

The Club reserves the right to close any advertised vacancies earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications have been received.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all.

We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement 

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding