Lucy Zodion
Purchasing Manager
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Job Overview
Lead the purchasing and supplier management function for Blakley Electrics across both its Harlow and Crayford sites, with responsibility for an annual spend of approximately £7m across raw materials, electrical components, fabricated parts and subcontract services.
Manage the day-to-day purchasing activities required to support UK manufacturing operations, ensuring continuity of supply, competitive pricing, inventory optimisation and supplier performance. The role will lead and develop a Buyer and work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Sales to ensure material availability supports customer demand and production requirements.
They will play a key role in delivering procurement and supply chain objectives set by the Operations Director, supporting supplier development, cost reduction initiatives, inventory management and continuous improvement activities.
The role requires extensive use of the Epicor ERP system and the ability to build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to achieve business objectives.
Job Content
- Reports to the Operations Director.
- Responsible for the management and development of one Buyer.
- Supports UK manufacturing operations across the Harlow and Crayford sites.
- Office-based in Harlow with travel to suppliers and other business locations as required.
- Actively contribute as a member of the Operations team.
- Support business improvement, sustainability and new product introduction projects.
- Achieve agreed departmental KPIs relating to supplier performance, inventory, purchasing efficiency and material availability.
- Undertake additional duties as required to support business needs.
Key Accountabilities
Supplier Management
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key suppliers.
- Manage supplier performance through agreed KPIs covering quality, delivery, responsiveness and cost.
- Conduct regular supplier reviews and support supplier improvement initiatives.
- Work collaboratively with suppliers to improve service levels, reduce lead times and strengthen supply chain resilience.
- Monitor supplier risks including capacity, performance, single-source dependency and continuity of supply.
- Support the identification and implementation of alternative sourcing options where appropriate.
- Manage supplier returns, concessions and non-conformance activities in conjunction with the Quality team.
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Purchasing
- Ensure timely placement of purchase orders on suppliers, maintain purchase order coverage in line with Sales Order requirements and Epicor ERP recommendations.
- Expedite component deliveries with suppliers as required based on manufacturing pressures.
- Support sales teams on special requirements as required.
- Keep track of material movements from suppliers.
- PO housekeeping and order ageing reconciliation.
- Preparation of material status reports for review.
Inventory Management
- Work with Production Planning and Operations to maintain inventory levels that balance service, availability and working capital requirements.
- Support ongoing optimisation of stock holding policies and purchasing parameters.
- Monitor inventory performance and identify opportunities to improve stock turns and reduce excess or obsolete stock.
- Assist in stock accuracy investigations and corrective actions.
Data Integrity
- Maintain accurate purchasing and inventory master data within Epicor ERP.
- Ensure purchasing parameters remain aligned to operational requirements, including: Lead times, Safety stock levels, MOQ/EOQ, Order multiples, unit of measure & Supplier pricing and costs.
- Work with Planning, Engineering and Operations teams to ensure data changes are implemented accurately.
- Produce and analyse purchasing and supplier performance metrics.
- Use ERP data to support informed purchasing decisions and identify improvement opportunities.
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Continuous Improvement
- Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities across purchasing and supplier management activities.
- Participate in value engineering and cost optimisation projects.
- Support improvements to purchasing processes, ERP utilisation and supplier performance.
- Contribute to sustainability, waste reduction and responsible sourcing initiatives.
- Foster strong working relationships across Operations, Quality, Warehouse, Engineering and Sales functions.
Qualifications, Experience & Skills
Essential
- Significant purchasing, procurement or materials management experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing supplier relationships and supplier performance.
- Understanding of MRP-driven purchasing and inventory management principles.
- Experience using ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong negotiation and commercial skills.
- Experience supervising, mentoring or managing team members.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
Desirable
- CIPS qualification or working towards CIPS.
- Experience using Epicor ERP.
- Experience purchasing metals, electrical components or engineered products.
- Experience supporting subcontract manufacturing suppliers.
- Experience delivering cost reduction and supplier improvement initiatives.
- Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
Behavioural Competencies
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to build effective working relationships internally and externally.
- Commercially minded with strong attention to detail.
- Proactive and solution-focused approach.
- Organised and capable of managing multiple priorities.
- Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.
- High levels of integrity and accountability.
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