Purchasing & Supply Chain Executive

Academia Ltd t/a Smartdesc

Hemel Hempstead

On-site

GBP 32,000 - 42,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Gym membership

Health Plan

Annual leave bonus

Birthday leave

Length of service bonus

Will writing service

Job summary

Academia Ltd t/a Smartdesc is seeking a highly organised Purchasing & Supply Chain Executive to support day-to-day operations of Purchasing and Sales Order Processing. The role is hands-on, focused on ownership, problem solving and building strong relationships with the Sales team, suppliers and internal colleagues.

During a maternity cover period, the role offers added operational support across the wider Supply Chain and a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Qualifications

Hands-on and proactive approach to work.
Experience in Purchasing, Procurement or Supply Chain operational environments.
Experience with Sales Order Processing and handling customer orders.

Responsibilities

Purchase orders: Create, process and issue to suppliers.
Coordinate with Sales and internal teams to support customer requirements.
Monitor orders, lead times and delivery dates; follow up on delays.
Support day-to-day planning across Purchasing and Sales Order Processing.
Identify supply issues and take action to minimise impact.

Skills

Hands-on

Organised

Purchasing

Sales Order Processing

Job description

We are looking for a highly organised, proactive and hands-on Purchasing & Supply Chain Executive to support the day-to-day operation of our Purchasing and Sales Order Processing functions.

This is a varied and fast-paced role for someone who enjoys being hands-on, taking ownership and solving problems. The successful candidate will be comfortable managing a busy workload, working across both Purchasing and Sales Order Processing, and building strong working relationships with our Sales team, suppliers and internal colleagues.

The role will suit someone who is commercially aware, picks up systems and processes quickly, and is confident making decisions and taking action without needing constant direction.

During a period of maternity cover, the role will provide additional operational support across the wider Supply Chain function and will play an important part in maintaining service levels, supporting the team and ensuring customer requirements are met.

This is an exciting full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract opportunity to join our team and make a meaningful impact. You’ll have the opportunity to take on a key role, build valuable experience and contribute to an exciting period of growth and development within the organisation.

Amongst other tasks, you will be responsible for:

Purchasing

Create and process purchase orders and ensure these are issued to suppliers accurately and promptly.
Liaise with suppliers regarding orders, availability, lead times and delivery dates.
Proactively follow up outstanding purchase orders and identify potential delays or shortages.
Deal with supplier queries and purchasing issues.
Coordinate and manage returns where required.
Work closely with Sales and internal teams to ensure purchasing activity supports customer requirements.
Identify potential supply issues early and take appropriate action to minimise their impact.

Sales Order Processing & Customer Support

Support the Sales Order Processing team with day-to-day workload and customer orders.
Work closely with Sales to understand priorities, requirements and customer commitments.
Investigate and resolve order-related issues quickly and effectively.
Provide clear and timely updates to Sales regarding order status, availability and potential delays.
Build strong, positive working relationships with the Sales team.
Challenge requests constructively where necessary, while always looking for practical solutions.
Ensure customer requirements are understood and communicated effectively across Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Supply Chain Coordination

Support day-to-day planning and prioritisation across Purchasing and Sales Order Processing.
Monitor workload and help ensure urgent or commercially important requirements are prioritised appropriately.
Identify potential problems before they become customer or operational escalations.
Investigate issues, establish the facts and take ownership of finding solutions.
Escalate significant issues appropriately, providing clear information and potential solutions rather than simply passing the problem on.
Support the wider Supply Chain function in maintaining efficient processes and high levels of customer service.

Person Specification

Hands-on and proactive, with a willingness to get involved and take ownership.
Highly organised, able to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively and work well under pressure.
Experienced in Purchasing, Procurement, Supply Chain or a similar operational environment, with experience of Sales Order Processing and/or customer orders.
Confident and collaborative, able to build strong relationships with Sales, suppliers and colleagues, while constructively challenging when required.
Solutions-focused, with the ability to investigate issues, make informed decisions and see problems through to resolution.
Commercially aware, understanding the impact of purchasing, availability and delivery on customers and the wider business.
Adaptable and quick to learn, particularly when it comes to new systems, processes and ways of working.
A positive team player who can provide support and informal direction to colleagues when needed.
Accountable and self-motivated, with good judgement around when to act independently and when to elevate.

Why Academia?

At Academia, we are redefining the landscape of IT services across education, business, public sector and non-profit sectors. As an innovative and rapidly expanding technology company, we’re not just a supplier—we’re a trusted partner to thousands of clients nationwide.

With over 20 years of expertise, double-digit growth, a team of 300+ professionals and revenues exceeding £150 million in FY26, we’ve earned a reputation as a top-tier IT solutions provider. Our dedication has been recognised with prestigious industry accolades, including the coveted CRN Reseller of the Year award.

Our ethos is simple: by delivering outstanding technology and ensuring it works seamlessly, we empower our clients to maximise their tech investments. Their IT success is our business.

We foster a culture rooted in our people, teamwork, innovation, integrity, ambition and a commitment to exceptional customer service. Backed by Strive Capital since 2020, we’re continuously expanding, exploring new frontiers with a strong financial and strategic foundation.

Our dedicated Lifecycle Services division exemplifies our promise to sustainability, offering comprehensive IT lifecycle solutions that reduce environmental impact.

At Academia, you’ll find more than just a job—you’ll find an opportunity to be part of one of the UK’s most exciting tech success stories. If you’re passionate about technology, eager to make an impact and ready to grow with a dynamic, supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information on opportunities with Academia, visit our website.

Here is a sneak peak at some of our employee benefits;