Job Description

The Museum shop and online sales generate considerable profit which services other areas of our Museum. The Museum shop stocks a vast array of gifts and military memorabilia for the onsite & online audience. Online sales have recently grown considerably to form a substantial part of the business, taking more money than our onsite shop. The Tank Museum Online Shop has become a well-known, popular, and strong brand in the heritage sector and is going from strength to strength.



As a Buyer you will be putting your excellent negotiation skills, financial acumen, and product development skills to the best possible use to create unique product for both our onsite and online shops. Whether you are maintaining stock levels of 'off shelf' product lines, working with suppliers to develop new and exciting ranges, or maintaining our stock lines on our online shop, you will be a vital member of the Retail and Visitor Services team.

Key Accountabilities:

Buying and Merchandising

Contribute to the Museum's forward plan by introducing innovative new products and ensuring strong margins across the range


Research market trends and consumer preferences to identify potential products for purchase, to include the development of bespoke products, while considering historic accuracies of Tanks.


Manage your product categories from start to finish, including orders and reorders, tracking delivery dates, setting up on the online shop, managing launch dates with Marketing and the wider team, reporting on sell throughs and planning any exit strategies


Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers to negotiate favourable terms and pricing.


Analyse sales data using phasing and forecasts to determine optimal inventory levels, working to 8-week sales to stock level where possible, minimising excessive inventory


Conduct regular performance reviews of products and suppliers to ensure alignment with company objectives and profitability targets.


Participate in trade shows, conferences, and supplier meetings to stay informed about new products and industry best practices.


Manage and maintain Critical Path


Curate product ranges for event days and school holidays.


Working and planning major events and analysing sales year on year to improve sales potential.


Work closely with the Retail and Visitor services Manager and the onsite team to plan visually appealing product displays and merchandising, both in the shop and for event days.


Ensuring that all financial transactions are accurately recorded, and procedures adhered to with regards to purchase of stock.


Work with Marketing to oversee product lines on our online shop, ensuring information is correct and a good level of inventory is maintained.

Operations and Communication

Plan and communicate buying and delivery logistics with the onsite team.


Collaborate with the marketing team to plan promotional activities and campaigns to increase sales.


Assisting the onsite team with customer emails and other administration when required.


Communicate effectively with wider museum departments, including finance, events, archive, and research to coordinate products and resolve issues.


Ensure compliance with museum policies, procedures, and ethical standards in all purchasing activities.

What you'll bring:

A relevant degree, CIPS or retail management qualification is desirable Experience of product sourcing within buying & merchandising Demonstrable negotiation and procurement experience Desirable is experience of: EPOS implementation Using purchase order systems Shopify online platform Buying from the far east Strong financial and commercial acumen Knowledge of stock budgets Innovation and Creation

Where:

The successful candidate will need to be onsite for the majority of the week, with potential working from home one day per week.

Advert close date

- 22nd January 2026

Interview dates

- 29th & 30th January 2026