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- £45,000 - £55,000 DOE
- London 2 days per week + WFH
Design-led home & gift brand is seeking an experienced and proactive Head of Buying & Purchasing to oversee the seamless coordination of buying, production, order fulfilment, and logistics. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in buying, supply chain management, and logistics, with the ability to drive cost-effective solutions while maintaining high operational standards.
Key responsibilities:
- Liaise with the Director on forecast figures to ensure accurate procurement planning
- Place orders with global vendors and oversee the production critical path to ensure all agreed timelines are met
- Keep the sales team and 3PL updated on production schedules and any potential delays
- Manage any production issues, working closely with suppliers to find swift, effective resolutions
- Proactively address and resolve supply chain disruptions, maintaining customer satisfaction and product availability at all times and ensure a swift route to market
- Oversee international shipments, customs clearance, and compliance with import/export regulations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with logistics partners, ensuring SLAs are met and cost efficiencies are maximised
- Review supplier manuals to understand procedures and share relevant information with the 3PL and internal teams
- Oversee product compliance, working closely with suppliers to ensure all necessary requirements are met
- Ensure all relevant SOPs are followed accurately and punctually
- Implement robust tracking systems and KPIs to monitor order accuracy and warehouse performance
Skills & experience required:
- 5+ years’ experience in buying, purchasing, supply chain, or procurement management within a retail, homeware, or gifting industry
- Must have worked within a product-based SME environment, ideally brand/supplier side
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to build and maintain strong supplier relationships
- Excellent knowledge of international shipping, logistics, and import/export compliance
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and budget constraints
- Strong analytical skills with a keen eye for detail, and the ability to read forecasts & interpret data
- Proficient using supply chain management systems and ERP software
- A proactive problem solver, always looking to improve processes and optimise efficiencies
