Head of Purchasing & Inventory Control in Hinckley

This year, we proudly celebrate 100 years of Hammonds - a century of helping people create homes that feel beautifully organised and thoughtfully designed. From bedroom and living spaces to home offices, we design and craft fitted furniture that transforms everyday rooms into functional, elegant spaces that bring order and harmony to the home. Our purpose remains simple: we create a well-ordered home, so our customers can live their lives better.

Proudly a family business with 22 showrooms nationwide, we manufacture our bespoke furniture in Leicestershire, combining exciting design, innovative storage solutions and exceptional craftsmanship, before bringing each design to life with care and precision. Driven by passionate people and a clear ambition to be the UK's leading fitted furniture specialists, we step into our second century building on our heritage - doing things properly, with intention and pride, The Hammonds Way.

We are now looking for a trusted Head of Purchasing & Inventory Control to make a valuable contribution to our business by delivering strong commercial leadership, operational control, and supply chain improvement across our manufacturing operation. The successful candidate will work with intention, helping to strengthen purchasing, inventory management, and supply chain activity while supporting the high standards and collaborative approach that reflect the Hammonds Way.

In this role, you will lead procurement and inventory control activity across a complex manufacturing environment, supporting improved operational performance, working capital optimisation, and supply continuity. You will strengthen supplier performance, improve inventory efficiency and planning discipline, reduce unnecessary complexity, and support wider operational transformation initiatives across the manufacturing and supply chain function.

Attention to detail, commercial awareness, leadership capability, and professionalism will be key as you contribute to the ongoing success of Hammonds, demonstrating our values of being Real, Committed, and Creative in everything you do.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead Supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and supply continuity across key raw material categories.
• Strengthen supplier performance, accountability, and operational resilience.
• Drive inventory optimisation to improve stock turns, reduce excess stock, and strengthen inventory governance.
• Ensure purchasing activity supports operational demand, production requirements, and working capital objectives.
• Lead SKU rationalisation and complexity reduction initiatives to improve operational efficiency.
• Introduce controls around new SKU introduction and material variation.
• Improve alignment between procurement, manufacturing, stores, and operational planning activity.
• Reduce reactive purchasing through stronger planning discipline and supply chain controls.
• Support operational cost control, waste reduction, and working capital improvement initiatives.
• Provide visibility of supplier, purchasing, and inventory performance to support operational decision making.
• Ensure material availability supports operational continuity and manufacturing requirements.
• Support wider operational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and develop the Buyers, Stock Control team, and Stores Manager.
• Create a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

You will bring:

• Proven experience in procurement, purchasing, inventory control, or supply chain leadership within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing supplier relationships, negotiations, and operational supply continuity.
• Experience driving inventory optimisation, stock control improvements, and purchasing discipline within complex operational environments.
• Ability to balance strategic improvement activity with hands-on operational leadership and day-to-day decision making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to identify opportunities for operational improvement and efficiency.
• Experience leading and developing teams, creating accountability, resilience, and continuous improvement within the function.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across operational and commercial teams.
• A proactive, organised, and resilient approach, aligned with Hammonds values of being Real, Committed, and Creative.

Your working hours / pattern will be:

• Days: Monday to Friday
• Hours: 08:00am - 16:00pm
• Total Weekly Working Hours: 37.5

As part of the Hammonds family, you'll enjoy:

• Private Medical Life Assurance x3
• 25 days of annual leave
• 1 extra day holiday per 5 years of service
• Additional annual leave purchase scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to discounts through Perkbox
• A supportive and creative team environment where your contributions make an impact

At Hammonds, our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our values of being Real, Committed, and Creative, we work together to create exceptional experiences for both our customers and each other, taking pride in doing things properly, with intention and care. When you join Hammonds, you'll become part of a supportive family business where your contribution is valued, your ideas are encouraged, and your development is supported. Whether you're working directly with customers, crafting our fitted furniture, or supporting our teams behind the scenes, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and build a rewarding career with us.