Mr Organic | Certified B Corporation
Purchasing & Supply Planning Manager (Italian Speaker)
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Purchasing & Supply Planning Manager
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded and highly organised Purchasing & Supply Planning Manager to take ownership of purchasing, forecasting, inventory planning, supplier management and inbound logistics across our food portfolio.
This is a hands-on role combining commercial supplier management with the day-to-day management of purchasing and supply planning. You will be responsible for ensuring products are available at the right time, in the right quantities and at the right cost, while balancing stock availability, working capital, shelf life and supply risk.
A key part of the role will be helping us develop and modernise our purchasing function, moving from manual processes towards a more automated, data-led approach using NetSuite and other business systems.
Experience within food, FMCG, grocery or a similar multi-SKU environment is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Supply Planning & Inventory
- Own and continuously improve SKU-level purchasing and demand forecasts.
- Analyse historical sales, seasonality, promotions, customer forecasts and other commercial information to anticipate future demand.
- Work closely with Sales and Marketing to understand promotions, new listings and expected changes in demand.
- Translate forecasts into purchasing requirements, taking account of existing stock, supplier lead times, production schedules, MOQs and shelf life.
- Monitor stock cover and identify potential shortages, overstock and slow-moving or short-dated inventory before they become operational issues.
- Review forecast performance and recommend corrective action where actual demand or supply differs materially from plan.
- Balance product availability with working-capital and inventory-risk considerations.
Purchasing & Supplier Management
- Manage the purchasing process from forecast and order placement through to delivery.
- Raise and manage purchase orders accurately and on time, confirming quantities, pricing and delivery dates with suppliers.
- Maintain visibility of outstanding orders and proactively follow up delays, changes and discrepancies.
- Develop strong commercial relationships with key suppliers and establish regular supplier reviews where appropriate.
- Lead negotiations on pricing, price changes, MOQs, payment terms, lead times, delivery arrangements, rebates and other commercial terms.
- Challenge supplier price increases using appropriate commercial and market information.
- Proactively identify cost-saving opportunities and opportunities to improve supplier terms.
- Monitor supplier performance and address recurring service or supply issues.
- Benchmark suppliers and alternative sourcing options where appropriate.
- Ensure agreed prices and commercial terms are accurately documented and reflected in purchasing records.
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Inbound Logistics
- Coordinate inbound transport with suppliers, freight providers and warehouse partners.
- Obtain and compare transport quotations and evaluate options based on cost, service and lead time.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate deliveries and reduce freight costs.
- Monitor shipments and expected arrival dates and ensure relevant teams and warehouse partners have accurate information.
- Maintain appropriate import, export and transport documentation.
- Resolve transport delays, discrepancies and delivery issues.
- Monitor freight costs and identify opportunities to improve cost or service.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Use NetSuite as the principal ERP system for purchasing, supplier management and inventory planning.
- Help develop greater use of NetSuite forecasting, demand-planning and purchasing functionality.
- Support the move from standalone spreadsheets and manual processes towards integrated, system-driven supply planning.
- Develop useful reports, Saved Searches and exception reporting to highlight stock risks, outstanding orders, supplier delays, forecast variances and purchasing requirements.
- Identify opportunities to automate repetitive purchasing and reporting activities.
- Maintain high standards of ERP data accuracy.
- Continuously review purchasing and supply-planning processes and recommend practical improvements.
- Previous NetSuite experience is highly desirable, although strong experience with another ERP, MRP or supply-planning system will also be considered.
Cross-functional & Product Support
- Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, NPD/Product, warehouse partners and management.
- Communicate stock risks, supply issues and changes to expected deliveries clearly and promptly.
- Work with Finance on supplier pricing, purchasing costs, inventory and logistics costs.
- Support NPD with supplier information, pricing, MOQs, lead times and production requirements.
- Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing and commercial information and ensure relevant documentation is organised and auditable.
- Provide management with clear analysis and recommendations when purchasing or supply-chain decisions are required.
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Experience & Skills
Essential
- 3–5 years' relevant experience in purchasing, procurement, supply planning, demand planning or supply-chain operations.
- Experience managing purchasing and forecasting across a multi-SKU portfolio.
- Practical experience producing SKU-level forecasts and translating them into purchasing requirements.
- Strong supplier-management and commercial negotiation experience.
- Experience managing supplier pricing, MOQs, lead times and commercial terms.
- Experience coordinating inbound logistics and transport.
- Experience using an ERP, MRP or supply-planning system.
- Strong Excel and analytical skills.
- A proactive approach, with the ability to identify risks and opportunities and take ownership from identification through to resolution.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
Highly Desirable
- Experience within food, FMCG, grocery or consumer products.
- NetSuite experience, particularly Demand Planning or purchasing functionality.
- Experience improving or automating purchasing and supply-planning processes.
- Experience managing European or international suppliers.
- Understanding of shelf-life management and UK inbound/import processes.
- Experience within ambient, organic or packaged food.
Language Requirements
- Italian: native level or minimum CEFR C1.
- English: minimum CEFR C1, written and spoken.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role will include strong product availability and forecast accuracy, appropriate inventory levels, effective supplier performance and commercial management, control of purchasing and logistics costs, and measurable progress towards a more efficient and automated purchasing and supply-planning function.
You will be expected to take ownership of the function: identifying risks and opportunities, recommending solutions and following actions through to completion rather than waiting for issues to be highlighted.
Working Arrangements
The role is based in our London office in Islington, with hybrid working available following successful completion of probation, in accordance with company policy.
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity is at the core of our vision, mission and values. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that represents a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints, and we actively encourage applications from people from underrepresented groups.
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