Inventory Leadership and Stock Control:

• Own inventory performance and control processes to maintain optimal stock levels aligned with demand forecasts, reducing both overstock and stockouts.
• Use demand planning and forecasting tools to align stock with seasonal trends, sales targets, and product launches.
• Improve stock availability and inventory health.
• Develop stock policies and inventory strategies.
• Balance service levels against working capital investment.
• Drive reduction of excess and obsolete inventory.
• Manage Product lifecycle and product performance including 6 month key stock reviews for recategorisation of stock including managing overstocks and slow moving lines.
• Co-ordinate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure efficient stock movement, storage, and handling.
• Validation of stock among 3 warehouse locations and among three key regions UKI, US and IBU.

Budget Management and Financial Control:

• Partner with Finance to develop, monitor, and control the purchasing and inventory budget, ensuring alignment with company financial goals.
• Track and report on stock variances, inventory adjustments, and obsolete stock to maintain budget accuracy and cost control.
• Conduct regular cost analysis to identify opportunities for budget savings and process improvements, supporting financial transparency.
• Prepare stock provision for finance team periodically.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team responsible for inventory control, purchasing administration and supply coordination.
• Establish clear accountabilities and performance measures.
• Further develop analytical capability within the team.

Multi functional Role – Working together:

• Collaborate with Product Development, Marketing, and Sales to align purchasing and inventory decisions with promotional activities, seasonal demand, and new product launches.
• Partner with Product Sourcing to ensure smooth transition from supplier selection into ongoing supply management, support with NPD initiatives, focusing on product procurement and stock readiness for launch and for ongoing supply.
• Collaborate with the Product Sourcing Manager, ensuring a smooth transition from supplier selection (sourcing) to day-to-day supply chain management (purchasing and inventory control).
• Work closely with Compliance and Quality Control to ensure new and existing products and factories meet supply standards.
• Work closely with Imports and Warehousing to optimise inventory flow.
• Manage agents if supplier agents are handling ongoing purchasing, inventory management, and logistics, the Inventory and Purchasing Manager is more suitable.
• Provide supply chain insights and budget updates to the SLT and Executive team to inform strategic decision-making in sourcing and stock management.

System and Process Optimisation:

• Lead the development of a S&OP process.
• Enhance forecasting processes and inventory reporting.
• Lead the development of efficient inventory management processes, implementing and optimising ERP and inventory systems.
• Develop and evolve KPI reporting for purchasing and inventory management to provide greater visibility of supply chain performance. Key success metrics include product availability, forecast accuracy, inventory turn, supplier service performance, OTIF, Excess and obsolete stock reduction and working capital optimisation.
• Track and own fulfilment rates and therefore lost sales linked with stock availability among the regions.
• Regularly evaluate and enhance purchasing and inventory practices to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase service levels.
• Drive automation and process simplification opportunities.

This list is not exhaustive and you may be asked to carry out other duties as deemed necessary by your Manager or Executive team.

Person Specification

Job Title: Purchasing & Inventory Manager

Department: Supply Chain

Attributes

Essential (E) / Desirable (D)

Method of Assessment i.e. Application Form, Interview, Presentation

Knowledge

• Strategic inventory management within an import, manufacturing, retail or consumer goods environment. – E
• S&OP leadership experience - E
• Commercial awareness linked to demand planning and supply planning experience - E
• Understanding of procurement and inventory management principles, including stock control, demand forecasting, and budgeting – E
• Familiarity with supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and cost-saving strategies – E
• Knowledge of compliance and quality standards in purchasing and stock management – D
• Experience with stock and supply systems and inventory management systems in a multi-location, international setting – D

Technical/Work-based Skills

• Advanced Excel capability -E
• Strong ERP and inventory management systems knowledge for tracking inventory, KPIs, and processes – E.
• Analytical skills for conducting cost analysis, budget tracking, and financial reporting – E.
• Competency in contract negotiation and supplier performance management – E
• Experience using forecasting tools to align stock levels with demand trends – D

General Skills/Attributes

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to work effectively with suppliers, internal teams, and stakeholders – E
• Attention to detail to ensure high accuracy in inventory tracking, budget adherence, and process compliance – E
• Problem-solving abilities to proactively address supply chain issues and resolve stock discrepancies – E
• Strong team leadership with proven track record of developing teams E
• Leadership skills to guide cross-functional collaboration and drive initiatives – D
• Strong organizational skills for managing multi-tasking and regional inventory coordination – E

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or inventory management within a supply chain environment – E
• Experience managing international supply chains and third-party manufacturers. E
• Proven track record in cost control, process optimization, and supplier negotiation – E
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions E
• History and experience of finance team alignment and collaboration - E
• FMCG, Homewares, Consumer Products or Retail background- D

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field – D
• Professional certification in supply chain or purchasing (e.g., CIPS or APICS) – D