Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager

Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager
Location: Ashford, Kent
Reporting To: Managing Director
Hours: 40 hours, Monday to Friday

Diamond Search Recruitment is proud to be representing a growing and dynamic e-commerce wholesale business based in Ashford, Kent.

Our client operates a busy trade counter alongside a nationwide e-commerce operation supplying a comprehensive range of products. The business is focused on stock availability, pricing accuracy, operational efficiency, and delivering reliable service to its customers.

The Role

The Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager will take full ownership of purchasing and stock management across the business.

This is a hands-on, operational role responsible for managing approximately:

76,000 SKUs

26,000 active lines annually

6,000 stocked items

The successful candidate will ensure strong stock availability, accurate pricing, and efficient supplier management while maintaining control of stock value and quality.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Day-to-day purchasing from approved suppliers

• Maintain strong working relationships with suppliers

• Place orders in line with agreed pricing structures, lead times, and supplier terms

• Identify and maximise supplier opportunities including special pricing, bulk-buy deals, discounts, and promotions

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date supplier price lists

Stock & Inventory Management

• Set, review, and maintain minimum and maximum stock levels

• Ensure service levels are achieved while controlling overall stock value

• Manage slow-moving, excess, and obsolete stock

• Maintain stock quality standards

• Organise and manage stock cleanses, including compensating and clearance orders

• Manage returns to suppliers for faulty, damaged, or incorrect stock

Sales & Service Support

• Liaise with sales and customer service teams regarding changing lead times, shortages, and availability issues

• Support both e-commerce operations and the trade counter

Finance & Ledger Liaison

• Work closely with the bought ledger team to resolve invoice discrepancies and pricing errors

• Ensure supplier debit notes and credit notes are correctly raised, processed, and fulfilled

Stock Accuracy & Control

• Organise and manage stock takes

• Investigate and resolve stock discrepancies

• Ensure stock records remain accurate and up to date

Commercial & Continuous Improvement

• Review sales and stock data to improve purchasing decisions

• Reduce excess, slow-moving, and obsolete stock

• Improve purchasing, supplier administration, and stock control processes

• Ensure supplier promotions and offers are fully utilised

Skills & Experience Required

Proven experience in purchasing, supply chain, or stock management

Experience managing large SKU volumes

Strong organisational skills and high attention to detail

Commercially aware (formal price negotiation not essential)

Comfortable working cross-functionally with sales and finance teams

Experience within wholesale, distribution, or e-commerce environments

Desirable

Experience within wholesale or technical products

Experience supporting both e-commerce and trade counter sales

Familiarity with ERP or stock management systems

What Success Looks Like

High availability across core stocked lines

Accurate pricing and supplier invoicing

Controlled stock levels with minimal dead stock

Smooth and efficient stock cleanses and stock takes

Supplier promotions consistently identified and applied

If you are an organised, commercially minded purchasing professional looking to take ownership of supply chain operations within a growing business, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Diamond Search Recruitment for a confidential discussion.

Diamond Search Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency regarding this vacancy.