Purchasing Assistant

ripple; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic environment

Ownership culture

Competitive salary

Job summary

ripple is seeking a detail-oriented Purchasing Assistant to support our growing procurement function in London. You’ll liaise with UK and Far East suppliers, manage purchase orders, and help maintain timely, accurate delivery of stock and materials to support Ripple’s continued growth.

This hands-on, in-office role requires strong communication, an analytical mindset, and the ability to stay ahead of a fast-moving production schedule.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in purchasing or supply chain support.
• Experience in FMCG or consumer goods preferred.
• Mandarin and/or Cantonese language skills are a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

• Liaise daily with UK and Far East suppliers to confirm orders.
• Manage full lifecycle from sourcing to production.
• Coordinate sampling, material selection costing, timelines and readiness.
• Raise and track purchase orders across product lines.
• Ensure supplier documentation is complete and accurate at order.
• Maintain records of production and shipping progress.

Skills

Purchasing

Supplier management

Time-zone comms

Mandarin Cantonese

Organization

Excel/Sheets

ERP transition

Forecasting

Job description

ripple⁺ is one of the UK’s leading and fastest-growing wellness brands. We operate across two key categories:

• ripple⁺ inhalables: A revolutionary approach to nicotine-free inhalation. Our mission is simple: help people step away from nicotine and move toward healthier habits through plant-powered alternatives.
• ripple⁺ home: A modern home fragrance solution, including incense, reed diffusers, and upcoming scent innovations that transform spaces with clean, high-quality aromas.

ripple⁺ Brand DNA:

• Extreme Ownership: Take full responsibility for every outcome within your control.
• Pursuit of Quality: How you do anything is how you do everything. Excellence is a habit.
• Purpose: Be here because you want to develop and grow as the company grows.
• We are a passionate long-term-focused team.
• Growth Mindset: Embrace continuous learning, resilience, and adaptability to thrive.

The Role

We’re seeking a detail-oriented, proactive, and organised Purchasing Assistant to support our busy procurement function. You’ll work to help manage our growing product range, liaise with suppliers across the UK and Far East, and ensure timely, accurate delivery of stock and materials to support our continued growth.

This is a hands-on, full-time, Monday to Friday, in-office role based in London that requires strong communication skills, an analytical mindset, and the ability to stay ahead of a fast-moving production schedule. You’ll play a critical role in keeping the supply chain running smoothly and helping the wider team deliver on time and to standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Liaise daily with UK and Far East suppliers to confirm order details, timelines, and documentation.
• Manage full lifecycle of various products from initial sourcing and development through to production
• Coordinate sampling, material selection costing, timelines and production readiness
• Raise and track purchase orders across multiple product lines.
• Ensure all supplier documentation is complete and accurate at point of order.
• Maintain clear records of production and shipping progress.

Quality Control & Compliance

• Work closely with purchasing team to set out quality standards
• Oversee QA and QC processes and co-oordinate 3rd party inspections
• Support buyers with corrective actions to ensure all products meet Ripple's quality & comliance prior to shipment

Data Management & Reporting

• Create and maintain clear, well-structured spreadsheets to track purchasing data and order status.
• Support basic forecasting and help manage supply/demand planning cycles.
• Compile reports for internal review and provide recommendations where needed.

Workflow Coordination

• Support smooth coordination of samples, packaging, and QC documentation.
• Help maintain the accuracy of internal systems and databases.
• Ensure tasks are followed through to completion with minimal oversight.

General

• Act as a key point of contact for supplier queries.
• Be an active member of a small team, contributing to cross-functional tasks when required.
• Support wider business needs with a solution-first mindset.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years’ experience in a purchasing, buying, or supply chain support role, ideally within FMCG or consumer goods.
• Proven ability to manage supplier relationships and communicate clearly across time zones and cultures (UK and Far East).
• Mandarin and/or Cantonese language skills are a significant advantage.
• Strong organisational skills with a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Experience in raising purchase orders, tracking production timelines, and supporting delivery reconciliation.
• Confident working with spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets), including formatting, data input, and basic formulae.
• Support the team as Ripple transfers towards an ERP system
• Numerate and commercially aware — able to support pricing, forecasting, and stock planning processes.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently while being a collaborative team player.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, founder-led environment with evolving priorities.

What We Offer

• A dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with direct exposure to decision-making.
• A culture of ownership, learning, and high standards.
• Competitive salary reflective of experience and impact.