Buying & Stock Control Manager

Red Door Recruitment; St Albans; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Door Recruitment is seeking an experienced Buying & Stock Control Manager to take ownership of purchasing, inventory planning, stock management and forecasting across the organisation, in the St Albans area. This role suits a commercially minded professional with strong analytical skills and a proven background in stock control, buying, merchandising, or supply chain management.

You will ensure products are available to meet customer demand while maximising profitability and minimising

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Buying, Inventory Planning, Stock Control, Merchandising, or Supply Chain Management.
• Proven experience managing purchasing activity and inventory within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel skills, including reporting and forecasting.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
• Experience producing management reports and making data-driven recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing and buying activities to ensure stock levels meet customer demand and business objectives.
• Monitor inventory performance, identifying opportunities to improve stock availability, reduce excess stock, and minimise commercial risk.
• Produce and maintain sales forecasts, stock plans, and purchasing projections to support effective decision-making.
• Analyse stock performance, margins, profitability, and inventory trends, providing regular reports and recommendations.
• Maintain accurate product, pricing, and inventory data across business systems.
• Work closely with Finance, Sales, Operations, and external suppliers to align stock levels with business requirements.
• Identify process improvements and efficiencies across purchasing, stock control, and supply chain operations.
• Support budgeting, inventory investment planning, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, supporting performance reviews and negotiations.
• Provide leadership and guidance on buying and stock management best practice, supporting the development of team members where required.

Skills

Buying & Stock Planning

Inventory Control

Forecasting

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Our client is a successful and growing business looking for an experienced Buying & Stock Control Manager to take ownership of purchasing, inventory planning, stock management, and forecasting activities across the organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded individual with strong analytical skills and a proven background in stock control, buying, merchandising, or supply chain management. You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring products are available to meet customer demand whilst maximising profitability and minimising inventory risk.

What's in it for you?

Location: St Albans area
Salary: Up to £50k depending on experience
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, office based

Key responsibilities:

• Manage purchasing and buying activities to ensure stock levels meet customer demand and business objectives.
• Monitor inventory performance, identifying opportunities to improve stock availability, reduce excess stock, and minimise commercial risk.
• Produce and maintain sales forecasts, stock plans, and purchasing projections to support effective decision-making.
• Analyse stock performance, margins, profitability, and inventory trends, providing regular reports and recommendations.
• Maintain accurate product, pricing, and inventory data across business systems.
• Work closely with Finance, Sales, Operations, and external suppliers to align stock levels with business requirements.
• Identify process improvements and efficiencies across purchasing, stock control, and supply chain operations.
• Support budgeting, inventory investment planning, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, supporting performance reviews and negotiations.
• Provide leadership and guidance on buying and stock management best practice, supporting the development of team members where required.

What are we looking for?

• Significant experience in Buying, Inventory Planning, Stock Control, Merchandising, or Supply Chain Management.
• Proven experience managing purchasing activity and inventory within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel skills, including reporting and forecasting.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
• Experience producing management reports and making data-driven recommendations.

Red Door Recruitment is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. Full details available on our website.

Please note due to the number of applications we often receive; only shortlisted applicants will be contacted