Purchasing and Inventory Manager

Location: St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £38,000 to £42,000 per year, depending on experience

Charter Controls is an established specialist supplier of industrial control and automation products, with over 40 years of industry experience.

We work directly with manufacturers around the world, importing and stocking a wide range of low-voltage control and automation products for customers across the UK and Ireland.

We are a close-knit team of around 12 people and are entering an important period of growth and development. As a smaller business, individuals have real visibility of the impact they make and the opportunity to contribute ideas and improve the way we work.

We are now looking for an experienced Purchasing & Inventory Manager to take ownership of our purchasing and inventory function.

This is a hands-on role responsible for purchasing and inventory management across a growing portfolio of more than 6,000 SKUs and a stock holding of approximately £600,000
.

You will report directly to the Joint Managing Director responsible for Finance and Operations
.

The role does not currently have any direct reports.

You will be responsible for day-to-day purchasing, maintaining appropriate stock levels, managing relationships with international suppliers, coordinating with freight and logistics providers, and producing meaningful stock and purchasing analysis to support business decisions.

This is not simply a purchase-order processing role.

We are looking for someone who can take ownership of the function, understand the numbers behind the stock, identify potential problems early and help us continually improve our purchasing and inventory processes.

• Manage the day-to-day purchasing of products from UK and international suppliers.
• Take ownership of inventory management across more than 6,000 SKUs and approximately £600,000 of stock.
• Raise and manage purchase orders accurately and within appropriate timescales.
• Monitor outstanding purchase orders, supplier lead times and expected delivery dates.
• Work closely with suppliers to resolve availability, delivery, pricing and supply issues.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers.
• Liaise with courier companies, freight providers and other logistics partners.
• Monitor stock levels and maintain an appropriate balance between product availability and stock investment.
• Use Eazystock to support stock planning, forecasting and purchasing decisions.
• Analyse stock movements, purchasing trends, slow-moving stock, excess inventory and potential stock shortages.
• Produce and continually develop monthly stock management reports.
• Use Microsoft Excel extensively to analyse data and turn it into useful management information.
• Work closely with our sales team to understand changing demand, customer requirements and future stock needs.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier and product information within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
  .
• Maintain supplier price lists, pricing information and associated purchasing records.
• Support supplier price reviews and purchasing negotiations.
• Monitor supplier performance, including delivery reliability, lead times and service levels.
• Maintain and take ownership of established purchasing and stock management processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing, stock control, reporting and operational efficiency.
• Take ownership of purchasing-related issues and follow them through to resolution.

Previous purchasing experience is essential.

We are looking for someone who is organised, analytical and comfortable taking responsibility for an important business function.

You should be confident working independently while also being…