Procurement Manager

Procurement Manager

Location: Remote (Home Based – UK)

Working Hours: This is a UK-based role supporting US stakeholders. Flexibility to accommodate US time zones is required from time to time, balanced with a flexible and outcome-focused approach to working hours.

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

We’re looking for a proven and experienced Procurement Manager to join our established and growing branded merchandise provider operating within the US collegiate market.

This is a UK-based role with a strong US focus, working primarily with US universities, campus stores, suppliers, and partners. The successful candidate will bring deep buying experience to a growing business in the university campus store space, where we drive customer engagement by delivering high-quality branded merchandise with passionate, world-class service.

Reporting into senior leadership, the Procurement Manager will work closely with US-based store managers and retail operations teams to develop inventory strategies that maximise sales growth and profitability, while supporting forecasted demand across our US customer base

Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse US consumer, fashion, and collegiate retail buying trends, as well as broader trends within the branded merchandise industry
• Source and evaluate apparel and branded merchandise for the US collegiate market, selecting items that meet in-store, organisational, and online customer needs while adhering to pricing, quality, decoration, and freight cost standards
• Conduct merchandise planning and rate-of-sales analysis, managing the end-to-end inventory strategy including new and seasonal buys, reorders, and end-of-life markdowns based on sell-through and planned product life cycle
• Analyse and evaluate US in-store and online sales performance, partnering with store managers and Retail Operations to adjust inventory strategies accordingly
• Develop and present commercial and trend analysis to influence future buying decisions and assortment strategies
• Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers to achieve best value and service levels
• Ensure timely delivery of products and compliance with purchase contracts, factoring in international logistics and US distribution requirements
• Work with the administrative team to create accurate sales and purchase orders, ensuring all product, pricing, and shipping details are correct
• Collaborate with administrative teams, graphic artists, decorators, and suppliers to create virtual samples and decoration-ready artwork suitable for branded merchandise
• Monitor open purchase orders to ensure on-time delivery, proactively resolving issues and mitigating future risks
• Expedite or defer orders as required based on inventory levels, trading performance, and demand changes
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive value improvement, supply chain optimisation, and sourcing strategies
• Lead the reconciliation of purchase order discrepancies between suppliers, store managers, and the accounting team
• Provide a high level of service to internal customers, recommending alternative products or supply options when required
• Analyse reports to identify sales trends and recurring production or shipping issues, sharing insights with senior management
• Travel as required, including US buying trips, supplier visits, trade shows, and industry events, to remain up to date with market trends

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a retail buying or procurement role, preferably within apparel or branded merchandise
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working directly with suppliers, ideally including overseas or US-based suppliers
• Strong applied knowledge of forecasting, transportation, supply chain, inventory management, and warehousing
• Experience working with international markets, particularly the US, is highly desirable
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, and Share Point
• Knowledge of branded merchandise and apparel decoration techniques is advantageous
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to prioritise, organise, and manage multiple deadlines
• Strong financial acumen with experience…