WAKEFIELD: Purchasing Assistant – Fixed Term Contract until 31.12.26

Location: Wakefield

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Closing Date: 04/07/2025

Are you ready to kickstart your career in the dynamic world of timber and builders merchanting? We’re on the lookout for a proactive and detail-oriented Purchasing Assistant to join our team! If you have a knack for negotiation, a keen eye for quality, and a passion for the construction industry, this role is perfect for you. Join us and help ensure our inventory is always stocked with the best materials for our customers.

Howarth Timber Group is proud to have been officially recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025!

Putting people at the heart of what we do. With 185 years’ trading experience, the Howarth Timber Group has grown to provide not only the widest range of products, but expertise, service and knowledge you can rely on. With a nationwide network of branches supplying timber and building materials, kitchens and a dedicated manufacturing division supplying timber engineering services, the Howarth Timber Group is focused on providing market leading choice, quality, service and value.

What does it mean to be a Howarth Timber Purchasing Assistant?

• This is a full-time role on a Fixed Term Contract until 31st December 2026.
• You’ll work with and support the Building Category Manager to deliver a rigorous and robust Category Management process, ensuring that key performance targets are achieved by developing category and supplier strategies, to encourage sustainable growth and improved profitability through supplier and product mix whilst improving competitive advantage.
• You’ll need to ensure that branches are stocking and have access to optimal products, suppliers and brands, at the best costs and with the best supplier engagement.
• This includes being the owner of products and suppliers within HTBS – in the context of a RACI model to be responsible and accountable – and to be the product, supplier and market expert for the respective category.
• This role also entails maximising our membership of the Fortis Buying Group by identifying suppliers and deals that provide HTBS with the greatest opportunities; executing these deals and relationships as consistently and efficiently as possible.

Key Responsibilities:

• To be customer centric – understand the needs of the customer.
• Establish and execute formal category plans that support HTBS budget aspirations.
• Develop strong, collaborative relationships with the Commercial, Sales and Operational teams.
• Attend Regional Manager and Branch Manager meetings and National Sales meetings to raise awareness of the category.
• Be innovative and drive NPD to ensure our product offering is always relevant to customers and we are considered as credible suppliers by customers.
• Be consultative with the business to ensure that product and supplier decisions have appropriate sales and operational input.
• Excellent communication with the business on all supplier and product related matters.
• Build great relationships with suppliers so that we are their merchant of choice.
• Appoint preferred suppliers and develop relationships and plans with them.
• Carry out regular category reviews to ensure that we are working with the right suppliers.
• Ensure all elements of Fortis deals are maximised.
• Refine and improve category performance through benchmarking competitor prices and reviewing price book architecture to optimise margin potential.
• Ensure critical KPIs in relevant areas are met or exceeded – including margin optimisation, rebate management and proactive stock management to support the reduction of obsolete stock.
• Develop robust fact-based reporting that facilitates informed decision making.
• Understand the implications and opportunities of eCommerce in each category and work closely with the eCommerce team to maximise opportunities.
• Work with the Head of Visual Merchandising on the HTBS merchandising strategy to create product range templates for branches, including SPO (Suggested Purchase Ordering) data and planograms.
• Establish an effective Core range – that ensures the right products are always available to customers.
• Work with the Marketing team to produce marketing plans bespoke to respective categories including a promotional strategy.
• Ensuring the Product File is always accurate.
• Ensuring that product information on the HTBS website is always accurate.

What are the requirements to be a part of our team?

• A proven track record in building materials category management and procurement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and able to work with and influence colleagues at all levels.
• Strong organisational and management skills, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and budgets.
• Ability to work unsupervised and under own initiative.
• An analytical mindset and excellent attention to detail.
• Computer Literate – specifically Microsoft 365.
• Sales Experience in the Construction Industry preferred with a high level of product knowledge.
• Flexible approach to working hours; this role will occasionally require significant travel and overnight stays.
• Full UK Driving licence essential.

Why choose Howarth Timber & Building Supplies Limited for your next role?

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• 31 days’ holiday, inclusive of Statutory Bank Holidays.
• Opportunity to buy up to an additional 5 days’ annual leave or sell up to 3 days’ annual leave (after qualifying period).
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Online Benefits Hub (inc discounts on gift cards, travel, cinema tickets, to name a few).
• Employee Assistance Programme, (24/7 helpline, counselling sessions, legal, debt and life management advice line).
• Generous colleague Merchant Branch discount.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Hybrid/flexible working available.

Get in touch

Applicants should put their application in writing enclosing their CV to Alix Maude, Building Category Manager, by email to amaude@howarth-timber.co.uk.