Buying (Trading)

Ready to develop your negotiating skills? Excited by the prospect of working in a fast-paced department with purchases worth millions of euros to be made every day?

Register your interest

We open our application window in Autumn 2024 for our 2025 Programme. You can register your interest below and we’ll let you know when the application window opens.

Register your interest

Job overview

We’re looking for talented grads with a passion for business, deal-making, trading and budgets. Our Buying (Trading) teams are responsible for buying the right products for our customers at the right price. Trading involves analysing data and negotiating with suppliers to ensure that we drive sales and profit for our retail partners.

With our guidance and support you’ll learn key skills and gain understanding of our pricing, supplier management, range, own brand, budgets, promotions and much more, engaging with clients and suppliers and negotiating the best possible price. Our Programme has proven to be highly successful at developing our commercial talent with former graduates progressing to senior roles in the business.

Download job spec

Key facts

  • Duration of programme 2 years
  • Location Hybrid with office locations in Cork, Dublin and Belfast
  • Rotations 2 x 12-month rotations in Cork, Dublin or Belfast
  • Essential qualifications Honours Degree Level 8 (all disciplines accepted)
  • Desirable qualifications Practical internship or experience in a commercial role is an advantage

Musgrave Benefits

Financial Well-being

  • Life Assurance
  • Income Protection
  • Occupational Pension
  • Employee discount in Musgrave MarketPlace

Personal Development

  • Individual coaching
  • Tailored development
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • GenRep Youth Board

Workplace Flexibility

  • Hybrid working*
  • Home office equipment
  • 23 days holidays
  • Free parking

Health and well-being

  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Digital Doctor
  • Well-being initiatives
  • Sports & Social clubs

*Role dependent

Related Content

A day in the life of a trading graduate

Read this blog from a previous graduate on our Buying (Trading) Programme to find out what a typical day is like working in trading

Trading Manager – Claire McAlinney

Watch this video, where former Buying (Trading) graduate Claire McAlinney talks about her experience on the Programme and how it’s helped her grow in confidence

A day in the life of an Assistant Trading Manager

Former Trading grad Sara Hickey has since taken a fulltime role as Assistant Trading Manager. Here she shares her experience of the programme and what her current role is like.

The graduate journey

Find out what a typical Graduate Programme is like, from the first week to the final year. It could be your journey next!
Other Opportunities

Supply Chain – Replenishment

Our warehouse teams who are critical to ensuring stock levels and timely distribution, every area of this work is integral to our business and our brands.

Marketing

Have you got big ideas for extraordinary brand campaigns, a passion for digital marketing or an eye for creative design? We’re looking for grads to help us build the brands of tomorrow.

IT – Digital Commerce

There is now a multitude of ways to engage our customers, through online, mobile, in-store and other services. Our brands have an increasing number of digital channels, which we strive to work in a seamless manner with our in-store/physical experience.

Consumer Insights

Insight and innovation is at the heart of our business and brands, so if you are passionate about digital channels and customer experiences, like we are, then this could be the role for you.

Supply Chain – Transport

Our transport teams manage one of the largest distribution networks across the island of Ireland, every area of this work is integral to our business and our brands.

IT – General

IT is an exciting and dynamic area in Musgrave, and we aim to be on the forefront of retail and wholesale technical innovation in Ireland.

Finance

If numbers are your thing, then you won’t find a better place to put your skills to good use than in the finance department of Ireland’s largest private sector employer.

Buying (Trading)

Ready to develop your negotiating skills? Excited by the prospect of working in a fast-paced department with purchases worth millions of euros to be made every day?
scroll
Find your answer in our frequently asked questions.
APPLICATION PROCESS
What do I need to consider before I apply?
Return to questions
What do I need to consider before I apply?

Add musgravegraduates.support@aon.com to your email contacts to make sure you receive our application updates

– Make sure your CV is saved in PDF or Word format as other formats may not be supported on our recruitment system

– Are there specific academic criteria for your preferred role? If we are looking for specific qualifications, we will apply these criteria for shortlisting candidates. You may be considered for your second preference if you do not meet specific criteria for your preferred role.

I've submitted my application, what happens next?
Return to questions
I've submitted my application, what happens next?

We’ll email you within 24 hours of submitting your application inviting you to complete our online assessments. This email will come from musgravegraduates.support@aon.com so make sure you mark this email as safe. Depending on your email filters, it may be directed to your spam folder. Keep an eye on the inbox and spam of the email you used for your application. If you have not received this email within 48 hours, contact us on earlycareers@musgrave.ie requesting this to be resent. This will be resent where applicable within the time-constraints of the application process.

I haven't received details of the online assessments after submitting my application.
Return to questions
I haven't received details of the online assessments after submitting my application.

This email will come from musgravegraduates.support@aon.com so make sure you mark this email as safe. Depending on your email filters, it may be directed to your spam folder. Some spam folder settings will automatically delete all emails after 30 days. If you have not received this email within 48 hours of submitting your application, or believe that it may have been deleted from your spam folder, contact us on earlycareers@musgrave.ie requesting this to be resent. This will be resent where applicable within the time-constraints of the application process.

When will I find out if I have been successful?
Return to questions
When will I find out if I have been successful?

We’ll contact you as soon as possible after each stage of the recruitment process. Correspondence up to the assessment centre stage is through email so please check your email regularly. Depending on your email filters sometimes our email may end up in your spam folder, check this out if you haven’t heard from us and ensure you have marked our email musgravegraduates.support@aon.com as safe.

How many graduates do you hire each year?
Return to questions
How many graduates do you hire each year?

We’re a fast-moving business and our opportunities change from year to year to meet our business requirements. We typically hire between 10-20 graduates each year.

Can I reapply next year if I don’t get onto the programme this year?
Return to questions
Can I reapply next year if I don’t get onto the programme this year?

Yes, you can apply the next year if unsuccessful in your application.

GRADUATE REQUIREMENTS
Do I need a specific degree to be considered for Musgrave?
Return to questions
Do I need a specific degree to be considered for Musgrave?

Many of our opportunities are open to graduates from all degree backgrounds. Where we do look for a specific qualification, we’ll specify it in the role description so check out Our Opportunities page. If we are looking for specific qualifications, we will apply these criteria for shortlisting candidates.

How recently should I have graduated?
Return to questions
How recently should I have graduated?

Our roles are aimed at grads who are looking for their first or second job. However, if you are interested in a career with Musgrave and have more experience you can apply directly for any of our current vacancies on  https://www.musgravegroup.com/careers/

What is the minimum requirement to be eligible for the graduate programme?
Return to questions
What is the minimum requirement to be eligible for the graduate programme?

Successful applicants must have graduated, or be on track to graduate, with an Honours Primary Degree (Level 8 NFQ). For roles where a specific degree or discipline is specified, we will apply these criteria for shortlisting candidates.

I need a work permit. Are you able to organise that for me?
Return to questions
I need a work permit. Are you able to organise that for me?

It is a requirement that you are eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland. If you do not hold an appropriate work permit, regretfully we cannot take your application further. If you are successful in your application with us, we will support the required documentation for future permit application. We do not provide financial sponsorship for permits.

Why do I have two role choices on the application form?
Return to questions
Why do I have two role choices on the application form?

We ask for your two preferred graduate roles to understand how you want to develop your career. We’ll consider your application based on your first preference as much possible. We may consider you for your second choice if we feel this would be more suited to your profile or if your academic qualifications do not meet criteria for specific role if required e.g. if you apply for an IT role and you do not hold a relevant IT/technical degree or masters.

THE PROGRAMME
Do I need to know what area I want to work in?
Return to questions
Do I need to know what area I want to work in?

Our graduate roles are designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to progress to business roles in specific areas e.g. if you join our buying programme, you will work in buying teams for the two years of the programme to gain the experience needed to become a buyer for our leading retail and wholesale brands. We recommend you go through our Opportunities carefully and make an informed decision on which area appeals most to your career ambition.

What's the salary?
Return to questions
What's the salary?

Starting salary for roles based in the Republic of Ireland is €31,000 gross per annum and increases after 12 months subject to performance. You are also eligible to a bonus on successful completion of the Programme.

What is the duration of the graduate programme?
Return to questions
What is the duration of the graduate programme?

The Programme runs for two years, apart from the finance and commercial food leadership programmes, which run for three years. We hire on a fixed-term contract initially and will work with high performing graduates to provide you with suitable career moves in our business post-Programme.

Will I change locations during the programme?
Return to questions
Will I change locations during the programme?

Depending on your graduate role, you will work in at least two of our divisional headquarters throughout the programme. These may be located in Dublin, Cork or Belfast. Check out our Opportunities to see where the roles are based and whether the role has a geographical rotation. If such a rotation is required, it forms part of your contract.

The majority of our opportunities are hybrid with teams typically working 1-2 days in the office.

What's involved in the Musgrave development programme?
Return to questions
What's involved in the Musgrave development programme?

The Musgrave Graduate development programme is a bespoke development programme to support the professional and personal development of our graduates. It comprises in-person and virtual modules over 2 years focused on areas such as personal growth, strategy, financial acumen, project management. You will also receive individual coaching as part of the Graduate development Programme and will work on a business projects which you will present to our CEO and senior leaders.

Can I work remotely?
Return to questions
Can I work remotely?

All Musgrave colleagues in office-based roles have the option to work in a hybrid role, with time spent in the office to collaborate and engage, and time working remotely. We calling this Work Smart @ Musgrave and details will be shared with successful applicants. Typically colleagues will spend 1-2 days in the office per week however it can vary by team.

OTHER
Will I work with specific brands or across the whole business?
Return to questions
Will I work with specific brands or across the whole business?

Depending on the role, you may work across several brands while on the Programme to give you wide exposure of our business. Details of the brands involved in each opportunity are included in the role descriptions on Our Opportunities

I want to study for a professional accountancy qualification, will you support this?
Return to questions
I want to study for a professional accountancy qualification, will you support this?

We support our Finance graduates in studying for the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) qualification via the CGMA Finance Leadership Program provided by CIMA. This is an online learning program, similar in scope and rigour to a master’s degree, that teaches the finance, business, people, and leadership skills needed to succeed in the finance team of the future. All learning, assessments and Case Study exam preparation takes place within the comprehensive FLP platform. Musgrave provides financial support and study leave for our Finance graduates to undertake this study pathway. We do not currently support other accountancy study pathways.

Where can I get more information?
Return to questions
Where can I get more information?

Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook  for regular updates, you can also visit our corporate website to find out more about Musgrave

Are there opportunities to work abroad?
Return to questions
Are there opportunities to work abroad?

Currently all our graduate roles are based on the Island of Ireland.