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- Tasks: Manage stock levels, optimise inventory, and drive efficiency in a dynamic team environment.
- Company: Join Macfarlane Packaging, a leader in protecting what matters with over 75 years of expertise.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to £30,000 salary, 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on operational performance while working with data and cross-functional teams.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and experience in inventory control or supply chain roles are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
Location: Horsham (Oakhurst Business Park, Southwater)
Basic salary up to £30,000 (dependent on experience) plus bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Packaging Distribution
Optimise stock, drive efficiency, and support business performance.
At Macfarlane Packaging, we’re in the business of protecting what matters - our people, our customers, and the planet. With over 75 years of industry expertise, we combine the strength of a market leader with the pace and energy of a commercial, sales-led business. If you enjoy working with data, driving efficiencies, and playing a key role in operational performance, this is an opportunity to make a real impact.
The Role:
- As our Assistant Buyer, you’ll take ownership of stock management across our site, ensuring the right products are available at the right time while balancing working capital, space utilisation, and margin.
- Working closely with procurement, sales, and logistics teams, you’ll use data and insight to forecast demand, manage stock levels, and identify opportunities to improve performance. This is a highly visible, cross-functional role where accuracy, organisation, and commercial awareness are key.
- Forecast inventory requirements using data and customer insight to optimise stock holding.
- Monitor and manage aged, excess, and slow-moving stock to improve margin and reduce waste.
- Maintain accurate inventory records, ensuring strong data integrity across systems.
- Manage Goods In schedules and oversee accurate Goods Received Notes (GRNs).
- Negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels with suppliers to ensure best value and performance.
- Support tender processes to secure favourable commercial terms.
- Work closely with sales, procurement, and logistics teams to align stock planning with customer needs.
- Build strong relationships across departments and with suppliers to support effective supply chain performance.
Strong analytical and numerical skills, with confidence working with data and Excel.
Any prior experience working in an inventory control, stock management, purchasing or supply chain role.
Previous experience in a distribution or logistics environment.
Understanding of inventory management principles and KPIs.
We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both professionally and personally, including:
- ~25 days holiday (rising to 27 with service) plus bank holidays.
- ~Additional holiday purchasing scheme.
- ~Contributory pension scheme.
- ~Flexible benefits package including healthcare options.
- ~Employee assistance programme to support wellbeing.
- ~Ongoing training and career development opportunities.
- ~Employee discounts across major retail and leisure brands.
- ~Long service awards and recognition schemes.
We’re committed to helping our people grow. With structured development pathways, access to industry-recognised training (including CIPS), and genuine opportunities for progression across the wider group, you’ll be supported to develop your career within a business that values continuous improvement and internal mobility.
We are working swiftly to find the best applicants and hope to hold local interviews ASAP. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. No recruitment agencies please.
Buyers Assistant Buyers Assistant in Crawley employer: Macfarlane Packaging
Contact Detail:
Macfarlane Packaging Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyers Assistant Buyers Assistant in Crawley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend local events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, especially when discussing your experience in stock management or data analysis.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyers Assistant Buyers Assistant in Crawley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer role. Highlight your experience with stock management, data analysis, and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your enthusiasm for working in a cross-functional environment like ours.
Show Off Your Data Skills: Since this role involves a lot of data work, make sure to showcase your analytical and numerical skills. Mention any specific tools or software you’re familiar with, especially Excel, as it’s crucial for optimising stock and driving efficiencies.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in directly from interested candidates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macfarlane Packaging
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Assistant Buyer, you'll be working with data and inventory management. Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to optimise stock levels or improve performance. Bring examples of how you’ve forecasted demand or managed stock effectively.
✨Understand the Supply Chain
Familiarise yourself with the basics of supply chain management and how different departments interact. Be ready to explain how you would collaborate with procurement, sales, and logistics teams to align stock planning with customer needs. Showing that you understand the bigger picture will impress your interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Macfarlane Packaging values commercial awareness, so think about how you can demonstrate this in your interview. Prepare to discuss how you would negotiate pricing and terms with suppliers, and consider any past experiences where you’ve successfully secured better deals or improved margins.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Ask about their approach to inventory management or how they measure success in the Assistant Buyer position. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.