Production Merchandiser - Homeware - Hybrid in Manchester

The Company: Europe's leading licensed home and lifestyle businesses are looking to recruit a highly organised and proactive Purchase Order Coordinator/Product Merchandiser. You will take ownership of the end-to-end management of purchase orders across suppliers in Pakistan, India and Turkey, ensuring products progress through the production critical path and are delivered on time, in full and to the required standards. This is a fast-paced role requiring excellent organisation, communication and problem-solving skills. You will become the primary day-to-day contact for your suppliers, working closely with Category Management, Demand Planning, QA/QC, Logistics and our international support teams to proactively manage production, resolve issues and minimise delivery risks. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring our supply chain operates efficiently while supporting continued business growth.

Benefits: The role is hybrid, 3 days in the office and 2 from home. Finish at 3pm on a Friday. Holidays are 21 days + birthday plus bank holidays.

The Role:

• Purchase Order Management
• Receive new customer and stock order enquiries from Sales, AST UK and Demand Planning.
• Confirm agreed unit cost, lead times and milestone dates, quantities and Vendor.
• Take full ownership of purchase orders from release through to shipment.
• Release purchase orders to suppliers using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Maintain purchase orders throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring all amendments are accurately processed.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgements.
• Ensure system data remains accurate and up to date.
• Work with Demand Planning and Accounts Services Team to communicate delivery changes and production updates.
• Critical Path Management
• Own the production critical path from purchase order release through to shipment.
• Monitor all key production milestones and proactively follow up on outstanding actions.
• Identify delivery risks early and implement recovery plans where required.
• Escalate potential delays with solution recommendations.
• Ensure customer delivery commitments are achieved wherever possible.
• Vendor Management
• Act as the primary contact for PO communication for suppliers across Pakistan, India and Turkey.
• Build strong working relationships with manufacturing partners.
• Hold regular production review meetings with suppliers.
• Resolve production queries and operational issues quickly and professionally.
• Support supplier performance improvements.
• Maintain supplier Capacity and Lead Time report.
• Cross Functional Collaboration
• Build strong working relationships with Demand Planning, Category Management, Accounts Services Team UK/India, Logistics and QA/QC.
• Provide regular production updates to internal stakeholders.
• Ensure clear communication throughout the order lifecycle.

Skills required:

• Essential:
• Previous experience within Merchandising, Production Merchandising, Supply Chain or purchasing.
• Strong experience managing overseas suppliers.
• Excellent understanding of purchase order management.
• Experience managing production critical paths.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship building abilities.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple suppliers and competing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Intermediate Excel skills.
• Experience using ERP systems.
• Desirable:
• Experience working with suppliers across Pakistan, India or Turkey.
• Experience within licensed home textiles.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Power BI.
• Understanding of product testing, inspections and customer compliance.
• Experience working with major UK and EU retailers.