{"id":1824007,"url":"https://alion.io/job/lucy-group-purchasing-manager","title":"Purchasing Manager","company":{"id":2525526,"name":"Lucy Electric","domain":"lucyelectric.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/lucyelectric","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Oracle","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":19,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-16T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Harlow, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":36000,"max_usd":80000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":446},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-07T08:14:28Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-07","last_verified_at":"2026-10-16T10:07:51Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":39,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":39},"description":"Job Overview:\nLead the purchasing and supplier management function for Blakley Electrics across both its Harlow and Crayford sites., with responsibility for an annual spend of approximately £7m across raw materials, electrical components, fabricated parts and subcontract services.\nManage the day-to-day purchasing activities required to support UK manufacturing operations, ensuring continuity of supply, competitive pricing, inventory optimisation and supplier performance. The role will lead and develop a Buyer and work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Sales to ensure material availability supports customer demand and production requirements.\nThey will play a key role in delivering procurement and supply chain objectives set by the Operations Director, supporting supplier development, cost reduction initiatives, inventory management and continuous improvement activities.\nThe role requires extensive use of the Epicor ERP system and the ability to build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to achieve business objectives\nJob Content:\nReports to the Operations Director. \nResponsible for the management and development of one Buyer. \nSupports UK manufacturing operations across the Harlow and Crayford sites. \nOffice-based in Harlow with travel to suppliers and other business locations as required. \nActively contribute as a member of the Operations team. \nSupport business improvement, sustainability and new product introduction projects. \nAchieve agreed departmental KPIs relating to supplier performance, inventory, purchasing efficiency and material availability. \nUndertake additional duties as required to support business needs.\nKey Accountabilities:\nSupplier Management\nDevelop and maintain effective working relationships with key suppliers. \nManage supplier performance through agreed KPIs covering quality, delivery, responsiveness and cost. \nConduct regular supplier reviews and support supplier improvement initiatives.\nWork collaboratively with suppliers to improve service levels, reduce lead times and strengthen supply chain resilience. \nMonitor supplier risks including capacity, performance, single-source dependency and continuity of supply. \nSupport the identification and implementation of alternative sourcing options where appropriate. \nManage supplier returns, concessions and non-conformance activities in conjunction with the Quality team.\nPurchasing\nEnsure timely placement of purchase orders on suppliers, maintain purchase order coverage in line with Sales Order requirements and Epicor ERP recommendationsExpedite component deliveries with suppliers as required based on manufacturing pressures\nSupport sales teams on special requirements as required\nKeep track of material movements from suppliers\nPO housekeeping and order ageing reconciliation\nPreparation of material status reports for review\n\nInventory Management\nWork with Production Planning and Operations to maintain inventory levels that balance service, availability and working capital requirements.\nSupport ongoing optimisation of stock holding policies and purchasing parameters.\nMonitor inventory performance and identify opportunities to improve stock turns and reduce excess or obsolete stock.\nAssist in stock accuracy investigations and corrective actions.\nData Integrity\nMaintain accurate purchasing and inventory master data within Epicor ERP. \nEnsure purchasing parameters remain aligned to operational requirements, including: Lead times, Safety stock levels, MOQ/EOQ, Order multiples, unit of measure & Supplier pricing and costs.\nWork with Planning, Engineering and Operations teams to ensure data changes are implemented accurately. \nProduce and analyse purchasing and supplier performance metrics. \nUse ERP data to support informed purchasing decisions and identify improvement opportunities.\nContinuous Improvement\nIdentify and support continuous improvement opportunities across purchasing and supplier management activities. \nParticipate in value engineering and cost optimisation projects. \nSupport improvements to purchasing processes, ERP utilisation and supplier performance. \nContribute to sustainability, waste reduction and responsible sourcing initiatives. \nFoster strong working relationships across Operations, Quality, Warehouse, Engineering and Sales functions.\nQualifications, Experience & Skills\nEssential\nSignificant purchasing, procurement or materials management experience within a manufacturing environment.\nExperience managing supplier relationships and supplier performance.\nUnderstanding of MRP-driven purchasing and inventory management principles.\nExperience using ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.\nStrong negotiation and commercial skills.\nExperience supervising, mentoring or managing team members.\nStrong analytical and problem-solving skills.\nAdvanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.\nDesirable\nCIPS qualification or working towards CIPS.\nExperience using Epicor ERP.\nExperience purchasing metals, electrical components or engineered products.\nExperience supporting subcontract manufacturing suppliers.\nExperience delivering cost reduction and supplier improvement initiatives.\nLean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.\nBehavioural Competencies\nStrong communication and stakeholder management skills. \nAbility to build effective working relationships internally and externally. \nCommercially minded with strong attention to detail. \nProactive and solution-focused approach. \nOrganised and capable of managing multiple priorities. \nResilient and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. \nResults-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset. \nHigh levels of integrity and accountability","description_format":"text","description_chars":5728,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Power Grid","Electrical Equipment & Cables"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-04T08:55:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":15,"band":"cold","label":"Long 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