Head of Food

Job Introduction

Are you looking for a new challenge that gives you the chance to get creative and use your knowledge and experience to take our Selfridges Food offer to the next level? Looking for a company that wants to help further your career as well as provide you with an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work?  

If the answer to all of these questions is ‘yes’ then you’re just the kind of person we’re looking for! 

Role Responsibility

• Create the sales and performance strategy for Food. Steering the Food Buying team to seek out new products, maximise opportunities and minimise the risk of poor performing products​

• Collaborate with various functions, including Finance, Merchandising, Digital and Marketing to name a few. Leading decision making for the Food division and influencing change where needed, striving to deliver the overall strategy for Food and the business as a whole​

• Be passionate and knowledgeable about Food. Demonstrating exceptional awareness of competitors and external market trends. Alongside this, you’ll identify missed opportunities and predict future trends​

• Continually strive to improve and build mutually effective supplier relationships, as well as identify new sourcing opportunities and provide focused, clear development direction to the current supplier base. Reinforcing the brand by ensuring the desired quality standards ​

• Analyse trading patterns, advising teams and ensuring appropriate action is taken in the event of unforeseen sales reactions, liaising with the retail and digital teams to mitigate further risk​

• Ensure the team buys a commercially viable product range that reflects the brand image and incorporates current trends. ​

• Manage and lead your team giving regular feedback and coaching. Recognising both talent and development areas, you will create unique plans to progress your team using the tools available

The Ideal Candidate

• Commercially astute. You understand how to navigate launch plans, phasing and sale dates with exceptional customer-focused knowledge in terms of markets and current trends. Taking opportunities to improve performance by creating and owning a clear plan to deliver results ​

• All over the numbers. You’ll have strong numerical and analytical skills, with a strong understanding of supply chain issues and cost such as e.g. product lead times/ flexibility/supplier capability​

• A great communicator. Friendly and confident in your manner you excel in the relationships you build with brands, team members, stakeholders and concessions​

• Engaging with the ability to influence multiple stakeholders across various functions in order to drive change ​

• Naturally pragmatic and solutions orientated. You are calm under pressure and can give clear guidance​

• A natural leader. Coaching team members to drive performance & enable change as well as supporting development ​

• Collaborative. Working flexibly as part of the management team you will support in projects and cross functional meetings as appropriate.​

• An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague​

About the Company

Our creative spirit

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome.

Our awards cabinet

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. 

Our future

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences.

THE FUN STUFF

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year.

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme

• Discounted gym memberships

• Pension contributions 

• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes

• A volunteer day for all team members

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development

Selfridges