Purchasing & Logistics Manager

DVS Ltd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A logistics and supply chain company in Cardiff seeks a leader for the Purchasing and Logistics department. You will oversee stock levels, manage logistics processes, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate has strong managerial and analytical skills, with experience in MRP systems and a solid understanding of import procedures. This role is pivotal in ensuring efficient supply chain operations and achieving business objectives.

Qualifications

• Strong relationship-building and analytical skills required.
• Proven managerial experience and ability to work collaboratively.
• Understanding of import procedures and HMRC reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Purchasing and Logistics team.
• Ensure optimal stock levels and process efficiency.
• Reporting weekly and monthly on key metrics/KPIs.

Skills

Relationship-building

Analytical skills

Managerial skills

Collaboration

Solutions-oriented mindset

Tools

MRP systems

Stock management systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

Reporting to the Technical Director, you will lead the Purchasing and Logistics department, ensuring optimal stock levels, efficient supply chain processes, cost control, and a well‑organised inventory system. This role requires strong relationship‑building, analytical and managerial skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments while promoting the Company’s values.

You will be responsible for developing, monitoring, analysing, and reporting on key metrics, creating actionable plans to achieve business objectives, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. A solutions‑oriented mindset and the ability to evaluate and optimise MRP systems are essential.

Main Responsibilities

• Proactively manage the team to respond accurately and within agreed time frames to daily purchasing enquiries (price enquiries, stock availability, direct deliveries etc.) via company systems.
• Utilising MRP and similar reporting, you will be responsible for ensuring the Company maintains appropriate levels of stock (minimising excess and aged stock); liaising with other departments and suppliers as appropriate.
• Monitoring aged stock and working with other departments to minimise values and highlight potential issues.
• Supporting Stock accuracy enquiries to resolution and managing direct delivery orders to completion.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date stock records implementing controls for data input into the system. This includes updating pricing, adding new products to systems with the correct data fields completed, changing settings for old products.
• Manage and optimise logistics for all products in and out of the business, measuring lead time, cost and delivery performance.
• Implementing and using purchasing and logistics best practices and key metrics to improve performance and drive efficiencies.
• Assisting the improvement of existing processes for forecasting and stock management (MRP) and devise and implement best practice cost and service measures; committed to proactive management and timely resolution of operational issues.
• Liaising with suppliers to ensure prices are updated on the stock system on a regular basis and timely basis.
• Managing and supporting stock takes (year‑end) working with other departments to ensure an efficient process and stock records are accurately updated on a timely basis.
• Reporting to the Executive team, you will report weekly and monthly on a wide range of key metrics/KPIs and provide updates/insight and offer solutions for improvements where applicable. You will undertake analysis with regular in‑depth reviews to monitor and help drive success in overall performance of multiple departments.
• You will form an integral part of regular departmental meetings to assess company performance against KPIs and establish opportunities to improve performance.
• Effectively manage interdepartmental relationships in order for the business to function cohesively. You will need to work closely with Sales, Warehouse and Workshop teams.
• You will have an understanding of import procedures and HMRC reporting requirements with regards to import documentation and commodity codes and the associated VAT and Duty implications and will assist in any customs audits by HMRC.
• You will have a basic understanding of supplier T&C and oversee supplier compliance to all contractual standards (e.g. business continuity, modern day slavery etc.).
• Preparing information and assisting with the submission of WEEE compliance and packaging and waste reporting requirements. You will also be responsible for reviewing and monitoring existing packaging and waste levels and developing potential options to further reduce volume and impact.
• Working with the Executive team on the delivery of monthly presentations and other associated projects, producing and articulating data to assist with discussions and decision making.
• Develop the team’s key performance indicators, measure and control performance and develop and implement for improvements.
• Managing team performance and agreeing employee development plans including appraisals, you will motivate individuals to achieve and to maintain consistent levels of high performance.
• You will ensure the Company has effective departmental training and systems are update accordingly on a timely basis.
• Working with the support of HR, you will manage the department including areas including holidays and sickness, training, interviewing and disciplinary and performance management.