Fantastic opportunity in Witham for an experienced Supply Chain Planner/Buyer with strong buying and logistics expertise to join a well-established, growing business.
Hours: Mon – Friday 08.30-17.30 – 1 hour lunch
Location: Witham CM8
Type: temporary – fixed term
Pay: £16-18ph DOE
Start date: January 2026
Key duties:
Plan and place accurate product orders using forecasting, sales data and system tools.
Manage stock performance by monitoring shortages, wastage and availability, and acting to reduce issues.
Investigate delivery problems and work with suppliers to prevent repeats.
Build and manage strong supplier relationships, including regular reviews, updates and performance monitoring.
Oversee procurement activities for production, sales and service materials, including optimising order quantities.
Adjust and reschedule purchase orders to match changing demand and maintain accurate supplier forecasts.
Manage and update production schedules, ensuring all related data in SAP is correct and supports product availability.
Provide accurate product availability information and communicate forecasts, risks and plans to internal teams.
Analyse data and prepare reports, highlighting trends, potential issues, capacity risks and improvement recommendations.
Support continuous improvement, including resolving quality issues, updating records, and contributing to optimisation initiatives.
Manage full vehicle compliance, including MOTs, inspections, tax, insurance and legal requirements, using FleetCheck to monitor vehicle and driver status.
Plan delivery schedules and routes, considering driver hours, vehicle capacity and cost efficiency, and prepare all required dispatch documentation.
Lead supplier and outsourced logistics coordination, selecting cost-effective external transport solutions when required.
Manage driver compliance and performance, including HR meetings, training requirements (CPC), and responding to breaches or issues.
Handle vehicle defects and breakdowns, managing repairs and recovery services to minimise fleet downtime.
Skills & Experience:
Strong eye for detail.
Well-organised, structured, and able to work effectively under pressure.
Comfortable working across multiple departments, solid experience in areas such as customer service, purchasing, manufacturing, finance, production planning, supply chain, stock control, and managing lead times in a fast-paced environment.
Confident using IT systems, especially Excel, and quick to pick up new software.
Clear, proactive communicator who builds solid relationships both internally and externally, in writing and in person.
Strong people skills with the ability to influence others.
Able to analyse issues and solve problems effectively.
Good with numbers and reporting, capable of interpreting data, spotting trends, and drawing insights.
Works well with others and values collaboration.
Experience in capacity planning, forecasting, and modelling.
Background in fleet management and logistics planning, including working within legal requirements.
Understanding of driving regulations, tachograph rules, and infringement legislation.
Keen to grow, learn, and develop new skills.
To apply for this Supply chain planner/buyer position, please apply now or submit updated CV to or contact southend branch on (phone number removed)
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