Global Supply Chain Planner in Basildon, Essex

Job Description: Job Title: Supply Chain & Inventory Planner Location: Head Office, Basildon, Essex Employment Type: Full-time We are seeking a commercially minded, proactive Supply Chain & Inventory Planner with strong initiative to take ownership of our stock forecasting, factory reordering, and freight management. At the core of our brand USP is our customer promise: maintaining excellent product availability so lines are never out of stock, while managing inventory efficiently to prevent overstocking. While our internal logistics team handles physical container offloading and customs clearance, you will negotiate ocean freight rates, track inbound shipments, and partner with freight forwarders to ensure containers ship on the most optimal schedules. Drive our key USP by optimising stock levels - maximising product availability while keeping inventory lean to protect cash flow and minimise overstocking risk. Data Analysis & Stock Planning: Daily monitoring of sales velocity, stock turn, and inventory health. Monitor production timelines, factoring in factory lead times, annual Asian holiday closures, and Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs). Freight Rate & Schedule Optimisation: Negotiate competitive ocean freight rates with freight forwarders and work with them to secure the most optimal shipping schedules to prevent delays. Mathematically pack 40ft High Cube containers to achieve maximum cubic metre (CBM) utilization, balancing weight, volume, and product mix to minimise shipping costs per item. Continuously evaluate current inventory processes, stock turnover rates, and reporting tools, introducing proactive ideas to streamline inventory flow and optimize systems. PO Financial Tracking: Track landed costs (FOB price, freight rates, duties) and monitor supplier payment schedules to ensure purchasing aligns with cash flow budgets. Stock Health & Discontinuation: Identify slow-moving inventory early and collaborate with management on promotional strategies or markdowns to clear slow lines. Experience: 2 years of hands-on experience in inventory planning, stock control, or purchasing within a retail, e-commerce, or wholesale business. Analytical Skills: Strong MS Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, forecasting formulas) with a proven track record of converting raw sales data into actionable reorder schedules. Staff discount across all store locations Private Healthcare Employee Discount Platform Casual Dress Company Events Company Pension Career growth opportunities as the business expands Language: ~ English (required) Driving Licence (preferred)