Head of Product and Buying

Founded in 1997 by Joyce and Bryce Gibson, Direct Soccer is the UK’s leading specialist in custom football teamwear. A family-owned business, we support grassroots clubs across the country with the fastest fulfilment in the industry. We’re proud to be the number one UK partner for adidas, Mitre, and Joma, and in the top-tier for Nike.

We’re a fast-growing SME known for embracing bold ideas and using technology to work smarter. From our AI-driven inventory planning to Scotland’s first Auto Store robotic warehouse, we continually invest in innovative solutions that make us more efficient, scalable, and future-ready.

Our bespoke website is the most advanced in the teamwear industry, enabling full kit customisation online without customer service involvement. We’re exploring new AI applications across our operations, giving you exposure to cutting-edge tools and strategic innovation initiatives.

Our commitment to innovation has been widely recognised. At the Courier Business Awards 2025, we were shortlisted in several categories, including Innovation & Technology, and proudly won Medium to Large Business and Overall Business of the Year.

Our culture is down-to-earth and hard-working, shaped by multigenerational family leadership who lead by example. You’ll be trusted, challenged, and given genuine ownership from day one.

• Drive the overall buying strategy, aligned with the company’s growth targets.
• Create and execute seasonal buying plans, controlling all future buys based on customer insight, sales data, and market trends.
• Shape product assortment and pricing strategy through data-led decision making, using tools such as Power BI.

• Manage stock levels and demand forecasting to ensure the right products are available at the right time.
• Develop and manage product lifecycle and retirement strategies through proactive planning.

• Analyse sales performance, best-sellers, and slow-moving stock to inform buying decisions and improve profitability.
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities across the range using sales, margin, and stock data.

• Strengthen relationships with brand partners to support long-term strategic growth.
• Track and review supplier performance, identifying opportunities to improve availability, pricing, and range effectiveness.
• Engage proactively with suppliers on new product launches and future opportunities.
• Lead, manage, and develop the buying team, setting clear objectives and expectations.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on accountability, growth, and continuous improvement.

• Work closely with Marketing on promotions and product launches to maximise engagement and revenue.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure buying decisions support wider business objectives.

• Demonstrate curiosity and take initiative to review purchasing processes, identifying improvement opportunities, thoroughly investigating root causes and solutions, and taking full ownership to implement change from end-to-end.

• Stay ahead of industry trends, new product releases, pricing changes, and market movements.

• Highly experienced in e-commerce buying or inventory management.
• Experience leading seasonal planning and managing high-value purchasing decisions.
• Data-driven with strong commercial judgement, able to make independent decisions.
• Experience in the sports or teamwear industry.
• Collaborative, organised, and proactive in approach.
• A positive and methodical leader, calm under pressure and driven to deliver results.

• Mentorship from Directors - Learn directly from senior leaders
• Training on Industry Tools - Gain hands‑on experience with the systems and software used across the business
• Supportive Team Culture - Join a collaborative, fast‑paced environment where your ideas are valued
• Monthly Work Events - Enjoy regular team socials and activities
• Career Development - Opportunities to grow and shape your future

Additional benefits include employee discounts, on‑site parking, and a company pension.

Direct Soccer is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.