Purchasing Manager
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Our client are one of Britain's leading suppliers of electrical/mechanical workshop equipment, supplying a wide range of markets, including DIY, Automotive, Industrial and Export worldwide. A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Purchasing Manager/Director reporting directly to the Directors.
You will have a wealth of experience at a senior management level running teams of buyers sourcing a large range of finished goods mainly in China and the Far East, ideally within power tools sector. You will also be purchasing product within the EU.
You will also be responsible for:
• Selection of all new products for wholesale & retail trade
• Sign off on all stock purchase orders and pricing
• Full stock availability
• Identifying products and ranges to enhance the product offering
• Working with the buying, test and marketing teams to make sure products come to market within given time frames
• Scheduling all new product testing and product evaluation with the in house engineering team to meet current directives
• Viewing all goods inward Quality Control reports, new product evaluation reports, warranty reports and making company decisions as to next course of action
• Deciding with the team what items will be deleted from the range
• Working with marketing team to identify products for promotional activity
• Managing the flow of new products from import through the new product engineering team and then private label development with marketing
• Setting the Trade and Retail prices for all newly selected products based on company margin requirements
• Ongoing review of retail market to ensure that current and new products are competitive
• Selection of inbound shipping agencies.
Key Skills Required:
• A proven track record of procurement and management experience (essential) at least 10 years in a management position
• Entrepreneurial person with a can do attitude.
• Experience of direct imports of finished consumer products from the Far East is essential
• Ability to understand and influence key financial purchasing issues and senior team members
• Ability to explain, present and influence in a clear, concise, compelling and consistent manner
• Ability to plan, prioritise and delegate to achieve deadlines • Ability to make difficult decisions
• Knowledge of the key market commodities, the processes and the major suppliers
• Proven track record of leading teams
• Excellent, clear and concise communication skills. Salary is commensurate with this senior position
Benefits:
• Annual salary review
• Bonuses twice yearly
• Healthcare
• 20 days holiday + 8 statutory
• Company Contribution Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Daily lunch option
• On-site parking
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your Far East sourcing experience prominently as this is explicitly essential for the role
📊 Quantify your procurement achievements: 'Managed £2.8M annual spend across 45 suppliers, reducing costs by 18%'
🌐 Emphasise power tools or electrical/mechanical equipment experience as they're the core product focus
🎯 Showcase your team leadership experience with specific numbers of direct reports managed
🤝 Detail your experience with quality control processes and product evaluation methodologies
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Led procurement team of 8 buyers sourcing £4.2M annually from 35+ Far East suppliers, reducing costs by 22% while maintaining quality standards
- •Managed complete product lifecycle for 180+ power tools and electrical equipment lines from China, achieving 95% on-time delivery rates
- •Implemented quality control processes for imported goods that reduced warranty claims by 31% and improved customer satisfaction scores to 4.6/5
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Letter preview — tailored to Dynamix Recruitment Limited
Dear Hiring Manager,
Your Purchasing Manager position perfectly aligns with my extensive Far East procurement experience and proven track record in managing supplier relationships across China and the wider region. Having led procurement teams for over 12 years, I understand the complexities of sourcing finished consumer products and managing quality control processes that your electrical/mechanical equipment business requires.
My background in procurement management has equipped me with the skills to evaluate suppliers, negotiate pricing structures, and coordinate cross-functional teams to bring products to market within tight timeframes. I have successfully managed annual procurement budgets exceeding £3.2M while maintaining quality standards and achieving cost reduction targets.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How do you evaluate and select suppliers in China and the Far East?
- ›What quality control processes have you implemented for imported goods?
- ›How do you determine optimal pricing strategies for wholesale and retail markets?
- ›Describe your experience with private label product development
- ›What methods do you use to forecast demand and manage stock levels?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision about discontinuing a product line
- ›Describe a situation where you had to influence senior stakeholders on a procurement decision
- ›Give an example of how you've managed competing priorities across multiple product launches
- ›Tell me about a time you had to resolve a quality issue with a Far East supplier
- ›Describe how you've developed and motivated a team of buyers
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision about discontinuing a product line
Describe a situation where you had to influence senior stakeholders on a procurement decision