At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead purchasing and stores management to optimise supply chain efficiency.
- Company: Join Niftylift, a top designer of mobile elevated work platforms.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, annual bonuses, health cover, and more perks.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with global supplier engagement.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in purchasing or supply chain roles, strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
An excellent opportunity for an experienced Purchasing & Stores Manager to join Niftylift Limited, a leading designer and manufacturer of mobile elevated work platforms based in Hoyland, Barnsley. The selected candidate will support the global supply chain operations by influencing supplier engagement and continuous product development.
About the Role
This position combines leadership of the Purchasing team with responsibility for the Stores and Internal Logistics function, ensuring a robust, efficient, and world-class supply chain.
Purchasing Management
- Lead the purchasing function for the Hoyland site, ensuring both stability and development of the supplier base.
- Develop, support, and coach the purchasing team; formalise value-added procedures and ensure adherence.
- Provide leadership on developing current and new supplier bases and logistics using proven techniques to maintain world-class supply.
- Ensure commercially secure, efficient purchase, control and scheduling of material at the lowest overall cost in line with Niftylift purchasing strategy.
Stores Management
- Oversee all aspects of internal logistics, materials management and stock control, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Develop and align stocking policies with purchasing, scheduling and safety stock categories to achieve balanced inventory that meets demand and supports seasonal flexibility.
- Coach the stock control team to manage direct materials, stock policies and investigate discrepancies, ensuring accurate perpetual inventory and annual stock-take accuracy.
- Drive continuous improvement to automate transactional data, optimise equipment and space usage via fleet planning, and support environmental legislation and standards.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Manage suppliers with a spend of £10M+, negotiating robust, commercially secure contracts.
- Develop and maintain a global structured supply base with dual sourcing and backups for all sensitive commodity types.
- Develop KPI reporting and scorecard measurement of suppliers.
- Identify opportunities and implement new purchasing strategies.
- Research, audit and select vendors for strategic partnerships.
- Maintain and audit an approved primary supplier base on financial stability, technical, commercial, quality, delivery and support abilities.
- Competitively tender parts as commodity groups and maintain teamwork with Milton Keynes.
- Support New Product Introduction projects through implementation.
- Conduct supplier development and recovery meetings in line with group needs.
- Maintain ordering methods, rolling delivery schedules, materials control and purchasing planning parameters on the company’s MRP.
- Verify, investigate and resolve MRP purchasing/schedule issues.
- Achieve cost savings through supplier technical resources, global and currency sourcing, correct selection, packaging/storage, finish & coatings.
- Oversee strategic logistic management, identify best practice and align with global supply chain purchasing strategies.
- Align direct material processes to optimise stock control, space and cost.
- Report slow-moving and obsolete stock to reduce, control and prevent.
- Monitor and manage stock discrepancies to ensure accurate demand pulling through MRP.
- Maintain full understanding and compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 standards, and develop effective logistics procedures and compliance.
- Plan and maintain ‘how-to’ guides for transactional processes to support training needs and standardisation.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in senior purchasing, commodity management or supply chain roles.
- Strong background in purchasing steel, welded fabrications and machined components within an engineering environment.
- Experience in continuous single-piece flow production setting.
- Strong understanding of MRP systems and Microsoft Office.
- Experience in stock control, internal logistics and inventory management.
- Strong contract negotiation skills, including inventory reduction.
- Ability to travel globally to support supplier management.
- Experience with lean manufacturing tools, supplier auditing (commercial/SQA/PPAP/QPAP), and contract negotiation.
Desirable:
- CIPS qualification (or working towards).
- Experience with open-book costing and PPV.
- Automotive standard supply contracts and penalties exposure.
Working Hours
07:30 – 16:30, Monday – Thursday.
07:30 – 13:30, Friday.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday (increasing to 30 days with service) plus bank holidays.
- Annual bonus (£500 per annum, based on recent average).
- 5% contributory pension scheme.
- Life insurance scheme.
- Health cover scheme.
- Staff discounts.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Employee referral scheme.
- Discounted gym memberships.
- Free on-site parking.
- Subsidised refreshments (lunch and drink options).
- Free quarterly company lunches.
- Free family events.
Purchasing & Stores Manager employer: Occupop
Niftylift Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Hoyland, Barnsley, where innovation and teamwork thrive. With a strong focus on employee development, the company provides extensive benefits including generous holiday allowances, a contributory pension scheme, and opportunities for professional growth within a supportive culture. Employees enjoy a range of perks such as subsidised refreshments, free gym memberships, and engaging family events, making Niftylift a rewarding place to build a career in the manufacturing sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing & Stores Manager
✨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 & Stores Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Niftylift and their supply chain operations. Understand their products and values so you can tailor your answers to show how you’d fit right in. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested in what they do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Purchasing & Stores Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to secure the best deals. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen those skills before your interview.
✨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 engage directly with us. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing & Stores Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Purchasing & Stores Manager role. Highlight your experience in purchasing, stock control, and supplier management. We want to see how your skills align with what Niftylift is looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your achievements in purchasing and logistics that demonstrate your leadership abilities.
Showcase Relevant Experience:When filling out your application, be sure to showcase your relevant experience in supply chain roles. Mention any specific projects or strategies you've implemented that led to cost savings or improved efficiency.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Occupop
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Purchasing & Stores Manager, you'll be dealing with significant budgets and supplier negotiations. Brush up on your financial acumen and be ready to discuss how you've managed large spends in the past. Bring specific examples of cost savings you've achieved or contracts you've negotiated.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a team, so be prepared to talk about your leadership style. Share experiences where you've coached or developed team members, and how you’ve implemented value-added procedures. Highlight any successful projects that demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire.
✨Understand the Supply Chain
Familiarise yourself with the global supply chain operations and logistics management. Be ready to discuss how you would influence supplier engagement and continuous product development. Research Niftylift's current suppliers and think about how you could enhance their relationships.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Given the technical nature of the role, expect questions about MRP systems, stock control, and lean manufacturing tools. Brush up on these topics and be ready to explain how you've applied them in previous roles. Showing your technical expertise will set you apart from other candidates.
