Buyer in Wollaston

Job description

Job Opportunity: Purchasing & Planning Coordinator (Raw Materials & Packaging)

Location: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £28,000 – £32,000 (Depending on experience)

About the Role

A growing specialist manufacturer in the chemical sector is seeking a Purchasing & Planning Coordinator to manage raw material and packaging procurement, stock control, and production planning.

This is a hands-on role in a small, fast-paced manufacturing environment, ideal for someone with experience in supply chain or planning roles within a regulated or process-driven industry.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing (Raw Materials & Packaging)

• Source and procure raw materials, additives, solvents, and packaging
• Monitor supplier lead times, pricing, and minimum order quantities (MOQs)
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships
• Manage purchase orders, delivery schedules, and relevant documentation (SDS, COAs)

Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Work with sales and management to manage rolling forecasts
• Translate forecasts into purchasing and production requirements
• Adjust planning based on seasonality, customer orders, and market trends

Inventory Management

• Monitor inventory of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods
• Maintain accurate stock records and conduct regular cycle counts
• Highlight slow-moving or obsolete inventory and recommend actions

Production Planning

• Plan production schedules based on customer orders and batch efficiencies
• Coordinate with production and laboratory teams to ensure raw material availability
• Optimise capacity planning to reduce downtime

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain purchasing and inventory data within ERP/MRP systems
• Generate reports on stock levels, purchasing KPIs, and forecast accuracy
• Track actual usage vs. Forecast and investigate variances

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• 2+ years in a buyer/purchasing or planning role within manufacturing (ideally chemicals or raw materials)
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Solid Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, formulas)
• Understanding of supply chain processes and cost impact of purchasing decisions
• Awareness of health & safety and regulatory compliance (e.g. SDS, REACH)

Desirable

• Background in chemical, resin, or polyurethane-based industries
• Familiarity with ERP or MRP software
• Experience in a small business/SME environment
• Knowledge of Incoterms and international material shipping

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and detail-oriented
• Calm under pressure and good at problem-solving
• Strong communication skills across all levels
• Team player with a flexible, hands-on approach

What’s on Offer

• An opportunity to make a real impact in a growing business
• Supportive, close-knit team environment
• Career progression in supply chain and operations
• Competitive salary and benefits

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Wollaston

Type of Contract

Part-time jobs

Published at

01-09-2025

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English