Junior Buyer/Purchasing Assistant

Junior Buyer/Purchasing Assistant

For the past 15 years, our client have been creating great memories and getting people together with their fun home/gift/stationary products. They have experienced fantastic growth over this period both in the UK and Internationally and this trend is continuing. This is a new role to support this growth.

Job Role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join their Buying/Purchasing Department to oversee and implement the buying of several of their core trading hubs. Working alongside a the team of product developers and the production department, you will ensure that they are purchasing the best quality products, at the best price, whilst at all times ensuring that margin targets are being adhered to. The ideal candidate must have previous experience working within a purchasing function, and can demonstrate proven negotiation skills. The candidate should also have experience of sourcing and working alongside suppliers in the Far East, Europe and UK.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Retail Buying position. The role does not include category range planning. It takes an overview across all the ‘Buys’ conducted for each business stream, ensures the right suppliers are being utilised for each product area, that the right prices are being achieved due to economies of scale, and pulls together all the information (working closely with the Product Developers) to coordinate the season’s buy across all products within the business, regardless of category.

Main duties:

Buying support functions would include:

• Cost review for core products
• Ownership of cost for core products
• Final check of cost matrixes.
• Cost matrix support for existing lines in the business.
• Checking of pro forma invoices.
• Tenaciously work with suppliers to negotiate the best pricing for the business, ensuring that agreed margin targets are achieved.
• Work with suppliers on group buy pricing and create initiatives to achieve extra margin for the business.
• With energy and enthusiasm, work alogside the product development team to dovetail in at the early stages of the development process, ensuring the most appropriate and relevant sourcing routes are selected.• Lead with complex price negotiations.
• Constantly challenge the sourcing routes, and look for cross quoting opportunities to increase margin, and product quality.
• Become an expert on the current supplier base.
• Work alongside the Shanghai Buying Assistant to ensure timely raising, and accuracy of purchase orders.
• Work alongside the Shanghai Buying Assistant on new sourcing requests.
• Demonstrate efficient use of the CRM supplier database. Champion, and encourage the wider product development team to use the CRM supplier database for new sourcing requests.
• Attend trade shows when required in the UK and beyond.
• Work closely with key stakeholders in the Supply Chain team, to ensure that the buying process is aligned with the critical path requirements.

Key attributes to role

• Highly organised.
• Key attention to detail.
• Can act on initiative and be proactive with identifying opportunities for further cost savings.
• Excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to achieve win-win results.
• Work methodically, and systematically with attention to detail.
• Flexible, and open to working on variety of projects at one time.
• Strong relationship skills to build partnerships with suppliers, 3rd party industry contacts, and the internal team – both in the UK and overseas.

• Able to manage a large and varied workload.
• Self-motivated, and able to remain focused on true priorities,
• Strong communication skills – Personable and able to work well with different types of people.
• Full of positive energy and strong drive to succeed.
• Very inquisitive and willing to challenge the status quo.
• Able to work under pressure, stick to deadlines and meet KPI’s.
• Excellent communicator both written and verbal – you will be the key bridge between a variety of people.
• Proactive over reactive – Looking for ways to prevent issues before they happen rather than having to firefight.
• Able to see the bigger picture.
• Strong team player

Required skills

• Minimum of 2 years experience of working in a purchasing or buying function.
• Experience of working directly with factories in China, and Europe.
• Experience of working in a wholesale organisation is an advantage.
• A high level of Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel & Outlook.
• Experience in working with an ERP system, or purchase order processing system.
• Product knowledge – having experience in home, gift, stationary products is an advantage but not essential
• Experience of attending UK and global trade shows.

At a glance:

• Full Time Monday – Friday
• 9:00 – 17:30
• Reports to Head of Buying