Head of Purchasing

**HEAD OF PURCHASING**

**TSP BACKGROUND**

The Sleep People are a privately owned manufacturer of mattresses. They have experienced significant growth during the last fiscal year and have plans to significantly grow the business further into other sleep-related product categories.

We are building a strong management team and now require an experienced person to develop and optimize the Purchasing department. There is already in place a good supervisory and middle management capability, but the challenges of upscaling and growing the business require experienced managers to drive change faster.

**ROLE AND PURPOSE**

Provide leadership and direction and controls and standards to all aspects of purchasing for raw materials and finished goods from UK and overseas.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Ensure all RM is purchased and available consistent with forward sales forecast and manufacturing requirements
- Optimize stock holding to meet above and provide a plan to minimize stock on site, whilst not jeopardizing production
- Build strong relationships with key suppliers
- Ensure all costs are checked against market at least every 3 months
- Source alternative supply from China or other locations and benchmark cost, quality and compliance
- Agree payment terms that improve cash flow
- Manage and develop existing purchase resources
- Liaise closely with Sales Director and Head of Operations to facilitate above tasks
- Contribute at senior management meetings on wider topics to help improve overall performance
- Visit overseas and UK suppliers and attend relevant trade shows

**SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE**
- It is likely and preferred, although not essential, that the individual will be working in the industry and have a working knowledge of mattress production and construction.
- Numerate and a good communicator and importantly a team player.
- Essential is knowledge of import and experience of working with overseas purchases.
- Strong leadership and communication skills, with a proven track record in engaging and developing a team to achieve company goals and individual development
- The capacity to grasp complex concepts easily
- ICT literacy to deal with various technologies and programmes
- Ideally living close to Ossett

**METRICS**
- Cost per item, target for year is minus 10%
- Move supply of fabrics to identified Chinese/ alternative factories
- Investigate alternative suppliers and provide reports on the viability of these and transition plans to new factories
- Ensure that bought in quilting and UK sourced spring purchases do not occur and that purchases from UK competitors of finished product does not occur.
- Compliance and safety
- Working environment and staff engagement
- Timeliness
- Staff retention
- Achieve deadlines set

**SALARY**
- Full time positon, 50k per year with some flexibility

As the Head of Purchasing, you will play a crucial role in driving the success of our company. If you know you have the required skills and experience to fulfil the high responsibilities of this senior role, we encourage you to apply.

**Salary**: From £50,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount

Schedule:

- Holidays
- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Ossett, WF5 9YA: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Experience**:

- Procurement: 1 year (preferred)
- Purchasing: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person