Purchasing and Inventory Manager

Our client is an established specialist in industrial controls and automation with over 40 years of industry experience. They are currently looking for a Purchasing and Inventory Manager to join their hardworking and dedicated team in St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.

The ideal candidate will possess demonstrable experience within purchasing, have previous hands-on experience using a stock management, inventory planning or inventory optimisation system, as well as experience of managing a sizeable and varied product or SKU portfolio. You will possess strong Microsoft excel skills, have good numerical and analytical ability, possess excellent organisation skill and attention to detail as well as strong communication and relationship-building skills.

As a Purchasing and Inventory Manager you will take responsibility for purchasing and inventory management across a product portfolio of more than 6,000 SKUs, with the range continuing to grow at the business develops. You will take ownership of day-to-day purchasing, help ensure the company maintain the right levels of stock, work closely with the international suppliers and logistic partners, and produce meaningful stock and purchasing analysis to support commercial decision-making.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and qualities:

• Demonstrable experience within purchasing
• Previous hands-on experience using a stock management, inventory planning or inventory optimisation system
• Experience managing a sizeable and varied product or SKU portfolio
• Possess strong Microsoft excel skills
• Experience producing, developing and interpreting management reports
• Have good numerical and analytical ability
• Possess excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Have strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to deal with suppliers, including international suppliers
• Have previously worked with courier, freight and logistics providers
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow actions through to completion

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 business central experience
• Previous experience using Eazystock
• (url removed) experience
• Experience within industrial automation, electrical products, engineering or a technical distribution environment
• Experience purchasing or importing products from international suppliers
• Experience developing, purchasing, inventory or stock management KPIs and reports

Your duties as a Purchasing and Inventory Manager would be:

• Managing the day-to-day purchasing of stock and products from UK and International suppliers
• Taking ownership of inventory management across a growing portfolio of more than 6,000 SKUs
• Raising and managing purchase orders, ensuring orders are accurate and placed within appropriate timescales
• Monitoring outstanding purchase orders, supplier lead times and expected delivery dates
• Working closely with suppliers to resolve delivery, availability, pricing and supply issues
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key suppliers
• Liaising closely with courier companies, freight providers and other logistics partners
• Monitoring stock levels and helping ensure the appropriate balance between product availability and stock investment
• Using the stock management software to support stock planning, forecasting and purchasing decisions
• Producing and continually developing monthly stock management reports
• Analysing stock movements, purchasing trends, slow-moving stock, excess inventory and potential stock shortages
• Using Excel extensively to analyse data and turn it into clear, useful management information
• Working closely with the sales team to understand changing demand, customer requirements and future stock needs
• Maintaining accurate purchasing, supplier and product information with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, together with associated offline supplier price lists and pricing data
• Supporting supplier price reviews and purchasing negotiations
• Monitoring supplier performance, including delivery reliability, lead times and service levels
• Maintaining and taking ownership of established purchasing and stock management processes
• Identifying practical opportunities to improve purchasing processes, stock control, reporting and operational efficiency
• Contributing to the ongoing development of systems and procedures as the company grows

Salary:

£38,000 - £42,000 per annum depending on experience

Hours:

Full Time

Permanent

Location:

St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex