At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage purchasing activities and build strong supplier relationships in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Miller's Vanguard, supporting the UK's supermarkets for over 40 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, company events, pension, and discounted food.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team ensuring the nation stays fed while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing or supply chain, strong organisational skills, and proactive mindset.
- Other info: Work in a state-of-the-art environment with excellent training and career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 29000 - 31000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced, proactive Purchasing Administrator to help keep our supply chain running smoothly. If you thrive in a fast‑paced environment, enjoy building strong supplier relationships, and have a knack for keeping processes organised and efficient, this role will suit you perfectly. Experience with purchasing refrigeration parts/catering parts/powered access is desirable but not essential.
Your Role
- Managing day‑to‑day purchasing activities, including raising purchase orders and processing requisitions
- Monitoring stock levels and ensuring timely replenishment
- Liaising with suppliers to negotiate pricing, lead times, and delivery schedules
- Tracking orders, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring accurate documentation
- Maintaining supplier records and supporting supplier performance reviews
- Working closely with internal customers (operations, finance, workshop, account management, etc.) to forecast needs and support business priorities
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives within the procurement function
Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a purchasing, procurement, or supply chain administration role advantageous
- Strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail
- Confident communicator with the ability to build positive supplier relationships
- Comfortable working with Microsoft Apps and purchasing systems/ERP software
- Good numerical skills and a solid understanding of purchasing processes
- Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines in a busy environment
- A proactive mindset — someone who spots issues early and takes initiative
Company Information
Miller's Vanguard are proud to have been supporting all the UK’s Supermarket chains for over 40 years, in brief, we are the people in the background ensuring that supermarkets keep the Nation fed, maintaining a wide and varied range of assets from food production equipment through to loading bay lifts.
Our services are as follows:
- Nationwide reactive maintenance
- Hygienic Deep cleaning & Planned maintenance services
- Refurbishment, logistics and installation of equipment
We do all of this with the firm foundations of being owned by the global Ali Group, whose turnover is in excess of £4 billion p.a.
Our people
Despite being a large operation here at Miller's Vanguard, we still firmly believe in running the business like we have done for the last 40 years, by valuing our biggest asset — YOU…the employee. Our team of over 500 employees have the advantage of working in state-of-the-art working environments:
- New Technical response centre
- Award Winning research, Innovation, and recycling facility
- Industry leading Mercedes Benz fleet
We believe in providing you with the very best environment and tools to do the job.
Career Development
Training is also a huge part of our culture here at Miller's Vanguard and our City and Guilds accredited training centre is where we coach and develop our employees regardless of your position or your length of service; we want to make sure that our staff can progress and keep pace with ever changing equipment technologies.
Why Join Us
- Job Specific Uniform & tooling for all roles
- Company wide fun days and charity events
- Company Pension
- 24 Holidays per year + public bank holidays
- Regular staff 'treats' for employees and their families
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Location: Millers Vanguard, Bury
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £29,000.00-£31,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
Experience: Purchasing: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
Purchasing Administrator employer: Miller's Vanguard
Contact Detail:
Miller's Vanguard Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Administrator
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Purchasing Administrator role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its supply chain processes. Familiarise yourself with their products and services, especially if they relate to refrigeration or catering parts. This will show that you’re genuinely interested and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Purchasing Administrator, you’ll need to liaise with suppliers effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence in discussing pricing and delivery schedules.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Administrator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Purchasing Administrator role. Highlight your experience in purchasing and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can contribute to our supply chain!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for us. Mention your proactive mindset and how you’ve built strong supplier relationships in the past. Let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Organisational Skills: Since this role requires strong organisational skills, make sure to mention specific examples of how you've kept processes organised and efficient in previous roles. We love seeing how you tackle challenges head-on!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Miller's Vanguard
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you brush up on your knowledge of purchasing processes and supply chain management. Familiarise yourself with common terms and practices in the industry, especially if you have experience with refrigeration or catering parts. This will help you speak confidently about your background and how it relates to the role.
✨Show Off Your Organisational Skills
As a Purchasing Administrator, being organised is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed multiple tasks or projects. Highlight how you kept everything on track, whether it was through effective use of software or simply by staying ahead of deadlines.
✨Build Rapport with Your Interviewers
Since strong supplier relationships are crucial for this role, demonstrate your communication skills during the interview. Be friendly and approachable, and don’t hesitate to ask questions about the company’s suppliers and procurement strategies. This shows your interest and helps establish a connection with the interviewers.
✨Be Proactive in Problem-Solving
Prepare to discuss situations where you identified issues early and took the initiative to resolve them. Whether it was a stock discrepancy or a supplier delay, showcasing your proactive mindset will resonate well with the interviewers, as they value someone who can think on their feet and contribute to continuous improvement.