Buying Manager - Sports, Leisure and Outdoors
About the job
- Significant experience in a Senior/Lead Buyer, Buying Manager, or similar commercial leadership role.
- Demonstrated success managing portfolio-level sales, margin, and profit performance.
- Expertise in category strategy, commercial performance, supplier negotiations, and internal investment committees.
- Experience leading high-performing buying teams and developing future talent.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functionally and vertically across multiple functions.
- Deep commercial acumen and a customer-first approach to decision making.
- A passion for retail, market trends, and creating compelling customer propositions.
- Develop and execute portfolio and category strategies aligned to customer, brand, and business objectives.
- Lead financial performance across sales, margin, markdown, and profitability targets.
- Identify growth opportunities, emerging trends, and competitive advantages that keep the business ahead of the market.
- Build and manage strategic supplier partnerships that deliver innovation, value, and commercial outcomes.
- Partner closely with Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing, Stores, and Finance to deliver end-to-end commercial and project success.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Buyers, creating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Drive commercial governance, trading rhythms, and performance reviews to ensure strong execution across the division.
- Category expertise in Sporting, Fitness, the Outdoors, and Gardening.
About the company
TWG is a major New Zealand retailer that operates three brands—The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, and Noel Leeming—with more than 180 stores, online platforms, and distribution centers. Its product mix covers general merchandise, stationery, and consumer electronics, sourced through offices in China and India. The company combines brick-and-mortar stores with e-commerce and a nationwide distribution network, supported by a 10,000-plus employee team. Its goal is to improve living for New Zealanders and protect the planet through sustainable practices, community support, and carbon-neutral milestones, while differentiating itself by scale, brand diversification, and a strong community focus.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Auckland, New Zealand
Founded
1982
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- FY26 H1 sales reached $1.612 billion, with same-store sales up 0.5%.
- Warehouse Stationery sales rose 5.7%, showing category-specific momentum.
- Net debt fell to $93.3 million and free cash flow stayed positive.
What critics are saying
- The February 2026 restructure cut 270 roles and cost $6 million.
- Kmart's Westgate megastore opens in 2026, squeezing value retail traffic.
- FY26 second-half sales were down 0.2%, exposing a fragile turnaround.
What makes The Warehouse Group unique
- The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, and Warehouse Stationery give New Zealand-wide scale.
- FY26 H1 margin discipline lifted operating profit to $26.9 million.
- Tata co-sourcing and 270 head-office cuts reset the cost base.
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Benefits
- Employee Discounts
- Paid Vacation
- Training Programs