Purchasing Manager

Location
: This role is based in our head office located at 40 High Street, Street, Somerset, BA16 0EQ and requires candidates to be able to be present in the office.

Summary
:

As the Purchasing Manager, you'll be responsible for making sure that that central component – the shoes we sell in stores across a range of regions and channels – is always there for our customers. Once we've built excitement and anticipation over certain products, it's over to you to make sure we can deliver the goods, every time.

What You'll Be Doing

All the work we do at Clarks – from marketing, to merchandising, and customer service – goes into delivering a unique customer experience centred around our special footwear. As the Purchasing Manager, you'll be responsible for making sure that that central component – the shoes we sell in stores across a range of regions and channels – is always there for our customers. Once we've built excitement and anticipation over certain products, it's over to you to make sure we can deliver the goods, every time.

That means having a complete overview of the whole purchasing process. Creating and managing purchase order plans that represent latest region and channel requirements. Collaborating with demand and fulfilment teams to ensure regional requirements are met on time and at the lowest cost. But, as much as it's about meeting requirements, it's about doing so in the most efficient way possible. That's why, as you help us maintain uninterrupted service, you'll always be looking for ways to improve processes. Identifying risks and opportunities. Making processes more reliable and more efficient. Maxing out SLAs. That's how you'll make great things happen. Both for Clarks and in your career.

Responsibilities:

• To ensure regional requirements are represented through purchase intent via the efficient and timely placement of purchase orders.
• To ensure the timely and accurate submission of production plans which support the needs of the business and enable factory forward planning.
• To provide the regional merchandising teams with support and specialist knowledge to ensure issues are resolved promptly and OTIF targets are achieved.
• Create and manage purchase plans that represent latest region and channel requirements, collaborate with demand and fulfilment teams to ensure region requirements are met on time and at lowest cost.
• Identify where supply plans do not meet agreed SLAs and take action to resolve; develop and propose solutions and recommend the best course of action.
• Direct purchase order placement at each order cut off stage gate: accurate purchase orders placed on time and in accordance with signed off quantities.
• Review projected pan regional availability across channels, identify risks and opportunities; collaborate with demand and fulfilment teams to ensure OTIF and service levels are maximised at lowest cost.
• Maximise utilisation of the stock asset in all future purchase decisions; suggest and action stock transfers between DC's where viable opportunities exist.

KPIs:

• Purchase orders placed on time to internal stakeholder requirements.
• Regional / channel availability SLA's achieved.
• Purchase orders placed are in accordance with region / channel signed off quantities.
• Regional forecasts represented accurately in planning systems.

Qualifications:

• Good numerical literacy & reasoning
• Analytical Skills
• Cross-functional knowledge (Operations, Order Fulfilment, Customer & Regional understanding)
• Merchandising planning concepts and principles
• Intermediate MS Excel skills
• Good working knowledge of SAP
• Good verbal and written communication and team building skills

About Clarks

Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. Sparking revolutions and defining generations, Clarks' archive of over 22,000 pairs includes the inimitable Desert Boot and Wallabee – and a ground-breaking combination of invention and craftsmanship remains at the heart of what the brand does now. Cutting-edge collaborations with cultural icons and KOLs, taking strides in social change, reimagining legendary silhouettes, and making shoes that move with the world ahead – Clarks is never standing still.