Graduate Inventory & Purchasing Executive

Graduate Inventory & Purchasing Executive

Location: Bristol / Avonmouth
Salary: £30,000–£32,000 + Annual Profit Share
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm

An excellent opportunity for an ambitious graduate or early-career professional to join a successful and growing business in a varied role combining purchasing, inventory management, supplier relationships and commercial analysis.

Our client is a leading specialist distributor supplying a broad range of products from well-known manufacturers to customers across the UK. The Bristol operation is growing and investing in its commercial team, with this role created to strengthen purchasing, inventory management and supplier relationships.

This is not simply an administrative purchasing position. Alongside managing stock and buying activity, you’ll be encouraged to build strong supplier relationships, develop your commercial awareness and become increasingly involved in wider business opportunities.

The Role

You’ll develop broad experience across purchasing, inventory and supplier management while gradually taking ownership of key responsibilities.

Your role will include:

• Managing inventory levels across a broad product range
• Placing and managing purchase orders
• Monitoring stock turnover and purchasing performance
• Analysing sales trends, buying patterns and future demand
• Producing and analysing reports using Excel
• Building strong relationships with manufacturers and suppliers
• Negotiating pricing, terms and commercial arrangements
• Working with supplier representatives to identify opportunities
• Supporting supplier promotions and wider commercial initiatives
• Improving stock availability and purchasing efficiency
• Working closely with sales, operations and management teams
• Taking on wider commercial responsibilities as you develop

A key part of the role will be developing the supplier side beyond simply placing orders. You’ll get to know key manufacturers and their representatives, understand their businesses and help develop stronger commercial relationships.

Over time, there will be scope to take greater ownership of key suppliers, purchasing projects and wider commercial initiatives.

About You

This opportunity would particularly suit a graduate or someone in the early stages of their career who enjoys working with numbers and data but also has the communication skills and confidence to build strong professional relationships.

You should be:

• Educated to degree level or similar, or able to demonstrate equivalent commercial potential
• Numerically confident with good analytical skills
• Comfortable using Excel and working with data
• Confident, personable and comfortable dealing with different people
• Commercially minded with an interest in purchasing and negotiation
• Organised with strong attention to detail
• Proactive and interested in improving processes
• Keen to learn, take responsibility and develop your career

Previous experience within purchasing, inventory, supply chain, customer service or another commercial environment would be beneficial, although it is not essential.

What’s on Offer?

• £30,000–£32,000 starting salary
• Annual profit share bonus
• Comprehensive training and support
• Product and manufacturer training
• Professional development opportunities
• Regular salary and development reviews
• Broad exposure across purchasing, inventory, suppliers and commercial operations
• Scope to develop responsibility for key supplier relationships and projects
• Genuine long-term career progression
• Monday to Friday working hours, 8:00am–5:00pm

If you’re analytical, commercially minded and looking for an opportunity to build a long-term career in purchasing and supplier management, apply today.