Supply and Demand planner

Collaborate and Innovate T/A Cosy; Burton upon Trent; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational resources company in Burton upon Trent is seeking a Supply & Demand Planner to manage supplier relationships and maintain stock levels. The ideal candidate will have experience in purchasing, strong negotiation skills, and a good understanding of inventory management. This role offers the opportunity to work with over 400 suppliers while ensuring product quality and availability in a rapidly growing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of purchasing experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in raising purchase orders and managing supplier relations.
• Ability to handle conflicting priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage orders and ensure timely delivery from suppliers.
• Maintain optimal stock levels according to forecasts.
• Establish strong supplier relationships and resolve supply chain issues.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Financial awareness

Education

GCSE or equivalent

Working towards CIPS qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Job Title: Supply & Demand Planner

Department: Purchasing

WORKING CONTEXT

Cosy is a rapidly growing company who develops, sources and markets innovative and collaborative educational resources and equipment for the use in schools and nurseries. We are continuing to look for further growth opportunities and need to ensure that we can continue to support the business through the availability of product and management of inventory to achieve our objectives.

Cosy purchases approximately 4,000 product lines per year, and the Purchasing Team has the responsibility for ensuring availability, purchasing at the lowest cost whilst ensuring quality standards are maintained and on time delivery is achieved.

Job Purpose

To be based within the Purchasing Department, you will be a key member of the department, responsible for maintaining the stock levels and managing UK and International suppliers that are primarily supporting the company’s purchasing function.

To acquire, at optimal cost and lead-times, all external purchases to support the business.

To monitor and adjust forecasts to ensure that optimum stock levels are maintained to support customer demand.

Main Responsibilities

• Accountable for the ordering and delivery of all externally manufactured purchases
• Review and maintenance of all product forecasts to ensure optimum stock levels
• Represent external suppliers in internal meetings
• Manage and maintain PO placement in line with projected forecasts
• Management of drop ship suppliers ensuring lead times are met and deliveries are made to customers in a timely manner
• Creation of product supply plans for key suppliers to ensure delivery of products are in line with the stock projection plan requirements
• Review and manage demand using the reports available within Netstock
• Manage the operational relationship with key suppliers and develop incident resolution for all supply chain delivery issues
• Manage shortages and stock outs with minimal affect to supply by working with the Buyers to replace, resource or substitute where necessary
• Liaise with the quality department to ensure that poor quality is replaced with minimal affect to availability and all investigations into poor quality are followed through to reduce re-occurrence
• Follow all product quality issues through to resolution with suppliers to include negotiation of credits or replacement parts, and resolving issues for future deliveries
• Maximise MOQ’s, MOV’s, EOQ’s, lead times and forecasts to maximise effective purchasing from suppliers
• Resourcing non-bespoke products in the event that suppliers either discontinue or increase costs significantly, minimising the impact on availability
• Manage key performance indicators including order placement and fulfilment, invoice query resolution, fill rate and stock availability

Impact & Influence

The Supply and Demand Planner reports directly to the Senior Supply and Demand Planner. Cosy is continuing to rapidly grow and the Purchasing Team needs to ensure that it continues to be able to support the company’s objectives through ensuring low cost product that matches all quality and product standards.

In order to ensure reduced costs and product availability, a programme is underway of negotiation with key suppliers and resourcing product globally. However, it is also essential that conformance to product quality and on time delivery is maintained.

The diverse range of products offered by Cosy is purchased from over 400 suppliers and the volatile seasonal demand means that responding quickly to change is a prerequisite for success. It is essential that the Supply and Demand Planner demonstrates enthusiasm and is self-motivated as they will have to identify their own opportunities and ensure full completion of all initiatives.

The Supply and Demand Planner will be monitored and evaluated on their ability to aid in the achievement of the departments KPIs in order to fulfil the expectations of Cosy’s customers.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Education & Qualifications

• Good technical skills, including confident use of Microsoft Office
• Qualified to a minimum of GCSE level

Desirable

• Working towards CIPS qualification

Training

• 3 years Purchasing experience within a fast moving environment

Knowledge & Experience

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to work closely with and influence others (Product Managers, Suppliers as well as line managers and peers)
• Raising POs in a structured manner and seeing orders through to fulfilment
• Ordering by exception and purchase order purchasing procedures
• Reviewing and amending forecasts
• Expediting from suppliers globally
• Managing conflicting priorities
• Good administrative experience

Desirable Knowledge / Experience

• Knowledge / experience of operational processes
• Experience of mail order operation
• Import and export from European countries

Skills & Attributes

• Strong financial and commercial awareness
• Self-motivated
• Completer finisher
• Analytical skills
• Confident communicator, able to build credibility with both internal and external contacts
• Accurate, thorough and methodical
• Excellent planning and organisational skills

Key Relationships

Marketing, Sales, Goods In, Quality, Customer Services, Product Management, Finance, Suppliers