At a Glance
- Tasks: Support sourcing and supply of products, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards.
- Company: Join Macfarlane Packaging, a leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Up to £35,000 salary, 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and professional development.
- Other info: Opportunities for internal progression and professional development with CIPS.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while growing your career in procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing or procurement, strong communication, and negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
Fareham (Midpoint 27 Business Park)
Package: Up to £35,000 annual salary (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, Monday to Friday
Sector: Packaging distribution
Protecting what matters, together. We're dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities, and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a collaborative, supportive, and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows.
Our fast-paced, results-driven environment will challenge and stretch you, but also provide genuine opportunities for personal and professional development.
The Buyer Role
As our Buyer within the local procurement team, you'll play a key role in supporting the efficient sourcing and supply of products to meet customer demand, sales targets, and profitability objectives. Working closely with internal teams and suppliers, you'll ensure stock is sourced competitively, delivered on time, and meets required quality standards. You'll also contribute to the ongoing development of the supplier base, helping to drive cost efficiencies, improve service levels, and support wider procurement strategy.
This is a varied and commercially focused role, offering exposure to supplier negotiation, stock management, and supply chain optimisation within a fast-paced distribution environment.
Key responsibilities
- Support the management and development of the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) supplier base
- Negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels with suppliers to ensure best value and performance
- Process and manage purchase orders, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement activity
- Work closely with the Category Manager and Procurement Manager to align with wider procurement strategy
- Source alternative suppliers where required to reduce risk and improve competitiveness
- Monitor supplier performance, addressing any quality or service issues promptly
- Support tender processes to secure favourable commercial terms
- Develop awareness of stock holding costs and take action to minimise excess or obsolete stock
- Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to optimise stock availability and flow
- Build strong product knowledge across packaging solutions
- Promote effective cross-functional working across departments and RDCs
What you will bring
You'll ideally have experience within a fast-paced purchasing or procurement environment and be confident working with suppliers, managing priorities, and supporting commercial decision-making.
Essential:
- Experience within a purchasing or procurement role
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Ability to prioritise workload within a fast-paced environment
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
Desirable:
- 18+ months buying experience within a commercial environment
- Experience working with multiple product lines and supplier bases
- Familiarity with systems such as ERP/SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or similar
- CIPS qualification (or interest in working towards this)
- Experience of cross-functional working with sales, logistics, or operations
What you will get
We provide a competitive basic salary alongside a range of bonus and incentive schemes. Our flexible benefits package can include:
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus bank holidays
- Additional holiday purchasing scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Free parking at most locations
- Annual volunteering day
- Employee assistance programme
- Extensive training and development opportunities
- Employee discount scheme
- Simply Health/Dental or BUPA options for qualifying roles
- Enhanced HR policies and long service awards
- EE mobile discount scheme
- Candidate referral scheme
Your future with us
At Macfarlane Group, you'll have the opportunity to shape your own career. We actively support internal progression and provide structured development pathways, combining in-house expertise with external training partners. You'll also have the opportunity to pursue professional development through recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), helping you to build a long-term career within procurement and supply chain.
Next Steps/How to Apply
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.
Supply Chain Specialist (home-based) in Hampshire employer: Macfarlane Packaging
Gottlieb Packaging Materials, part of Macfarlane Group plc, is an excellent employer located in Trafford Park, Manchester, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide comprehensive training and development opportunities, alongside competitive salaries and benefits, including 25 days of annual leave and a company pension scheme. Our collaborative culture encourages long-term career progression, making it an ideal place for individuals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the packaging distribution sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Specialist (home-based) in Hampshire
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Macfarlane Packaging, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Supply Chain Specialist (home-based).
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Specialist (home-based) in Hampshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Macfarlane Packaging. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Macfarlane Packaging and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macfarlane Packaging
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Macfarlane Packaging.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Macfarlane Packaging
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Macfarlane Packaging might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
