Key Responsibilities

• Raise, process and manage purchase orders through the company’s ERP or MRP system.
• Order raw materials, components, consumables and subcontracted services.
• Monitor open orders and communicate with suppliers regarding pricing, availability and delivery dates.
• Expedite urgent and overdue orders to minimise production delays.
• Work closely with Production and Planning to understand upcoming material requirements.
• Monitor stock levels, usage rates, reorder points and safety-stock requirements.
• Analyse purchasing and stock data to identify trends, shortages, excess stock and slow-moving items.
• Produce reports covering outstanding orders, stock availability and supplier delivery performance.
• Liaise with Stores and Quality to resolve shortages, damaged materials, delivery discrepancies and supplier-quality concerns.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, supporting cost-reduction and lead-time improvement activities.
• Assist with supplier onboarding and performance monitoring across quality, cost and delivery.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information and supporting documentation.
• Support stock counts and investigations into inventory discrepancies.
• Build strong working relationships with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams.

Key Skills and Experience

• Previous experience within purchasing, procurement, supply chain, stock control or materials planning.
• Experience within engineering, manufacturing, production or a similar industrial environment would be advantageous.
• Confident raising and managing purchase orders and communicating with suppliers.
• Good understanding of stock control and material requirements.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to identify trends and potential issues.
• Confident using Microsoft Excel and working with purchasing or inventory data.
• Experience using an ERP or MRP system would be beneficial.
• Excellent organisation, communication and attention to detail.
• Proactive approach to resolving shortages, late deliveries and order discrepancies.
• Comfortable working closely with Production, Planning, Stores, Quality and Engineering teams.

A qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business or Manufacturing would be advantageous. CIPS qualifications or a willingness to work towards them would also be desirable.