Procurement Manager
Join TipTopJob and help drive customer engagement by delivering high‑quality branded merchandise with passionate, world‑class service.
Location: Remote (Home Based: UK)
Working Hours: Flexible to accommodate US time zones, balanced with results‑focused approach.
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience.
Key Responsibilities
* Monitor and analyse US consumer, fashion, and collegiate retail buying trends, and broader trends within the branded merchandise industry.
* Source and evaluate apparel and branded merchandise for the US collegiate market, selecting items that meet in‑store, organisational, and online customer needs while adhering to pricing, quality, decoration, and freight cost standards.
* Conduct merchandise planning and rate‑of‑sales analysis, managing the end‑to‑end inventory strategy including new and seasonal buys, reorders, and end‑of‑life markdowns based on sell‑through and planned product life cycle.
* Analyse and evaluate US in‑store and online sales performance, partnering with store managers and Retail Operations to adjust inventory strategies accordingly.
* Develop and present commercial and trend analysis to influence future buying decisions and assortment strategies.
* Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers to achieve best value and service levels.
* Ensure timely delivery of products and compliance with purchase contracts, factoring in international logistics and US distribution requirements.
* Work with the administrative team to create accurate sales and purchase orders, ensuring all product, pricing, and shipping details are correct.
* Collaborate with graphic artists, decorators, and suppliers to create virtual samples and decoration‑ready artwork suitable for branded merchandise.
* Monitor open purchase orders to ensure on‑time delivery, proactively resolve issues and mitigate future risks.
* Expedite or defer orders as required based on inventory levels, trading performance, and demand changes.
* Lead the reconciliation of purchase‑order discrepancies between suppliers, store managers, and the accounting team.
* Provide a high level of service to internal customers, recommending alternative products or supply options when required.
* Analyse reports to identify sales trends and recurring production or shipping issues, sharing insights with senior management.
* Travel as required, including US buying trips, supplier visits, trade shows, and industry events.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
* Minimum 5 years experience in a retail buying or procurement role, preferably within apparel or branded merchandise.
* Minimum 5 years experience working directly with suppliers, ideally including overseas or US‑based suppliers.
* Strong applied knowledge of forecasting, transportation, supply chain, inventory management, and warehousing.
* Experience working with international markets, particularly the US, is highly desirable.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Additional Information
* Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level.
* Employment type: Full‑time.
* Job function: Purchasing and Supply Chain (Industry: Advertising Services).
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