Trainee Buyer

Trainee Buyer
Location: Bristol
Package: Basic salary £25,000-£27,000 (dependent on experience) bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Friday)
Sector: Packaging distribution
 
 
Protecting what matters, together
We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a highly collaborative, supportive and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows.
 
With history stretching back over 75 years, we offer stability whilst always striving for continual growth. Our fast-paced, results-driven approach will challenge and often stretch you, but it will also give you opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to directly influence our success, leading to real job satisfaction and achievement, at all stages of your career.
 
We provide competitive pay and personalised incentives, alongside adaptable benefits to make your rewards package go further. And additionally, the way we work prioritises work-life balance and flexibility, empowering our colleagues to manage what is most important to them. Our business values commitment, diligence, teamwork, adaptability and a thirst for learning… so if this sounds like you, come and join us to help drive change that enables businesses to plan for a better future.
 
The Trainee Buyer Role
As our Trainee Buyer, your journey with us will commence by taking on a predominantly inventory-control focused remit, learning all aspects of this and then gradually progressing into other areas of the procurement functions. It is our intention that once a certain level of aptitude has been achieved, the successful candidate will also be encouraged to embark on a CIPS (chartered institute of purchasing & supply) accredited training program, this to further support their understanding of procurement functionality. You will help to manage stock effectively, optimising availability to meet customer needs while adhering to working capital targets and maximising space and margin utilisation. Your responsibilities will include implementing efficient inventory practices, accurate forecasting, and replenishment, whilst monitoring levels to prevent stockouts. You will engage with our stakeholders to align customer forecasts with inventory planning and procurement. Additionally, you’ll need to maintain data integrity, ensuring accurate inventory records. By supporting site activities, your efforts will contribute to overall sales and profit targets, enhancing operational efficiency and profitability.
 
Trainee Buyer Key Duties  

• Uphold and maintain high level of inventory management & coordination
• Accurately forecast and report inventory requirements to ensure optimal stock availability.
• Take responsibility for stock at allocated sites, including managing stock availability for customer service, working capital optimisation, and space utilisation.
• Manage aged stock and invoiced stock effectively, identifying opportunities to improve margin and reduce order quantities.
• Ensure that all purchasing transactions are conducted efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of purchased products, including pallet configurations and volume.
• Purchase standard and non-standard stock items, maintaining cost-effective stock levels appropriate to expected customer service levels.
• Expedite purchase orders and resolve cost-related issues to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Manage the stock database of aged and invoiced stock in line with customer agreements, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
• Manage Goods In delivery schedule and confirm Goods Received Notes (GRNs).
• Manage Stock Holding Agreements and ensure purchase order accuracy.
• Ensure effective cross functional/department collaboration
• Develop strong relationships and communicate effectively with management, procurement, logistics, and sales teams to manage working capital, optimise space, improve margins, and meet customer needs.
• Promote cooperation between our departments and Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs) across the group to enhance operational efficiency.
• Use controls & measures to ensure optimal performance & improvements
• Manage and achieve stock Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), continually identifying areas for improvement.
• Identify areas for margin improvement or inventory optimisation and liaise with management to take appropriate action.
• Administer purchase orders and all associated administration, ensuring compliance with company policies and standards. 

What you will bring
The successful applicant will ideally meet with the below criteria…
 
Essential:

• Comfortable working within a fast-paced environment with the ability to prioritise tasks
• Effective time management and organisation skills.
• The ability to learn and absorb new information quickly within a dynamic working environment
• Able to work comfortably with a large number of product skus across multi-sites
• At ease when working with a variety of product groups – varied value, volume, density, supply chains
• Effective communication skills both verbal and written with variety of colleagues, supply base and occasionally customers
• Strong numerical & data interpretation skills 
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
• Strong computing/systems-based skills including MS Office and a solid foundation of Excel spreadsheet familiarity/competency.
• Skilled at problem solving and handling challenging discussions
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Proactive approach to role
• Comfortable in undertaking close inter-department working (i.e. with sales/logistics) 

Desirable:

• Good understanding of inventory management principles 
• Minimum 12 months procurement experience within a commercial environment 
• CIPs accredited & part or full qualified

 What you will get
We provide a competitive basic starting salary and operate a range of rewarding bonus/incentive schemes. Our flexible employee benefits can include: - 

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free parking at many of our site locations
• Range of company cars or cash allowance (including electric) for qualifying roles
• Employee assistance program to support & advise with well-being & any issues
• Extensive range of training/development & potential progression opportunities
• Employee discount scheme (discounts on several major retail/leisure brands)
• Annual paid Volunteering Day
• Simply Health/Dental Cover option or BUPA cover for qualifying roles
• Tax free childcare (TFC) scheme
• Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
• Long service awards (5-40 years)
• Charitable giving options
• Financial support with eye-tests/purchasing glasses (DSE users only)
• O2 Mobile discount scheme (up to 25% off) 

Your future with us
Working at Macfarlane Packaging, you truly have the potential to shape your own future and set your own ambitions.