Category Assistant – Beauty Retail

About the role

Join the SEPHORA Brands team in the UK as a Category Assistant, supporting the performance, growth and day‑to‑day execution of the SEPHORA Collection and contributing to product development for SEPHORA Favourites and other key projects.

Key responsibilities

• Liaise with suppliers to collect new line information and ensure accurate, timely documentation.
• Assist the Category Manager with trend analysis, forecasting and identification of upcoming brands and innovations.
• Prepare product nominations for marketing, social and PR activities.
• Analyse sales, margin and performance data to highlight opportunities for weekly trade reviews.
• Raise purchase orders for new ranges, promotional buys, samples and ad‑hoc requests.
• Maintain product data, pricing files, codes and supplier contacts.
• Resolve supplier invoice queries in partnership with Finance.
• Coordinate product samples for marketing and retail needs, managing call‑in and tracking.
• Oversee retail sampling processes and meet deadlines.
• Support ad‑hoc administrative tasks and commercial projects.
• Deputise for the Assistant Category Manager when required.

Required profile

• Proactive, organised and commercially driven with strong attention to detail.
• Passion for beauty and retail environments.
• Experience in buying or a retail head‑office setting is advantageous.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.