Company Description
Julian Bowen is one of the UK’s leading furniture suppliers, known for delivering great quality, value and award-winning customer service. With a global supply base spanning the Far East and South America, our supply chain is at the heart of everything we do.
What You'll Be Doing
We’re now looking for an experienced and driven Supply Chain Manager to take ownership of our inbound operations. Reporting to the Buying Director, this is a key leadership role where you’ll work closely with senior management to ensure the right stock is in the right place at the right time — efficiently and cost-effectively.
Role Description
You’ll manage the end-to-end inbound supply chain, from overseas purchasing through to freight, imports and delivery into the UK. You’ll be the central link between factories, overseas offices, freight forwarders and internal teams, ensuring goods flow smoothly and on schedule.
This is a role that blends strategic planning with hands‑on operational leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Stock & Purchasing
* Analysing daily sales and stock data to make informed purchasing decisions
* Raising and managing purchase orders using Slimstock alongside commercial insight
* Ensuring strong stock cover across peak seasons and supplier shutdown periods
* Managing overseas POs from placement to delivery
* Proactively resolving supply challenges to protect availability
Shipping & Imports
* Acting as the main point of contact for all inbound freight and import matters
* Managing freight from the Far East and South America
* Building strong partnerships with suppliers and freight forwarders
* Overseeing shipment schedules and managing allocations across providers
* Monitoring inbound KPIs to ensure on‑time delivery
* Managing freight costs, rate negotiations and invoice validation
Leadership & Collaboration
* Leading and developing the shipping and purchasing function
* Working closely with Buying, Replenishment, Finance and other teams to align supply with demand
* Supporting process improvements across the wider supply chain
* Liaising with overseas teams across Asia and South America
Systems & Continuous Improvement
* Maintaining robust import controls within Sage systems
* Producing clear documentation and reporting
* Analysing supply chain data to identify cost savings and performance improvements
* Driving improvements across forecasting, purchasing and logistics
What we’re looking for
* 3+ years’ experience in overseas purchasing and import management
* Strong understanding of international freight and import processes
* Experience managing freight forwarders and logistics providers
* Previous team leadership experience
* Strong analytical skills — comfortable working with sales and stock data (Slimstock experience a plus)
* Advanced Excel skills
* Sage 200 experience desirable
Additional Information
You’ll be highly organised, commercially aware and comfortable working in a fast‑paced, global environment. Most importantly, you’ll be proactive, solutions‑focused and ready to take real ownership of a critical function.
This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a pivotal role within a growing business where you can genuinely make an impact.
If you’re passionate about supply chain excellence and enjoy working in a dynamic, international environment — we’d love to hear from you.
Location: Just North of Nottingham
Job Type: Full‑Time, Permanent
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 OTE, Dependent on Experience
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