Purchasing and Logistics ManagerJob Overview:
As a Purchasing and Operations Manager at Creativehut, you will be responsible for leading all procurement activities, whilst overseeing our third party logistics (3PL) partnerships in UK, Ireland and USA, including end to end supply chain operations. The role requires a cost conscious, results driven mindset, with strong relationship management skills and a passion for driving customer excellence. The position ensures timely, cost effective and quality driven management of purchasing, inventory management, demand planning and forecasting, with efficient inventory flow, logistics performance and supplier relationships. Reporting directly to our Head of Operations you will work closely with our Brand Partnership Manager, Sales and Marketing Teams to ensure that our operations and supply chain delivery exemplifies our customer services.
Responsibilities:
Purchasing & supplier management
* Own the purchasing process for all SKUs, from requisition to PO creation, approval, and communication.
* Maintain accurate supplier data (pricing, weights, dims, lead times, MOQs, terms)
* Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers to support margin and availability targets.
* Monitor supplier OTIF (on‑time, in‑full) performance and lead times; drive corrective actions where performance is below target.
* Resolve supply issues proactively (shortages, delays, quality issues) and communicate impacts to internal & external stakeholders.
2. Inventory management (all 3PLs)
* Own inventory health across all 3PL locations (UK, US & EU) within Unleashed.
* Set and maintain min/max levels, safety stock, and reorder points per SKU
* Monitor stock availability, back order levels, ageing/slow‑moving stock, and excess/obsolete inventory.
* Initiate and coordinate regular cycle counts and stock reconciliations with 3PL partners; investigate and resolve variances.
* Drive actions to reduce stockouts, write‑offs, and working capital tied up in inventory.
3. Demand planning & forecasting
* Develop and maintain a rolling demand forecast by SKU, channel and location, using historical data, seasonality, promotions and input from Sales/Marketing.
* Translate demand plans into purchasing plans and 3PL inventory requirements.
* Run regular S&OP / demand reviews with key stakeholders to align on forecast assumptions and risks.
* Track forecast accuracy and bias and continuously improve forecasting models and parameters.
4. 3PL management & logistics
* Act as the primary operational contact for all 3PLs, ensuring they meet agreed SLAs and KPIs (on‑time dispatch, accuracy, lead times, etc.).
* Set up, manage and optimise processes and data flows between Unleashed and each 3PL (orders, shipments, receipts, inventory).
* Coordinate inbound shipments to 3PLs and inter‑warehouse transfers to balance stock between locations.
* Monitor logistics performance and costs (freight, handling, storage); identify and implement cost‑saving and service‑improving initiatives.
* Lead regular performance reviews with each 3PL, including root cause analysis and continuous improvement actions.
* Monitor and ensure that 3PL partners adhere to compliance requirements from trade customers
5. Systems & data (Unleashed)
* Be the internal superuser for Unleashed for purchasing, inventory and logistics.
* Ensure master data integrity (SKUs, BOMs if relevant, suppliers, locations) and transactional accuracy (POs, GRNs, transfers, adjustments).
* Design and run standard reports/dashboards for stock availability, back orders, OTIF, lead times, and other key KPIs.
* Work with Finance/Operations to ensure that Unleashed supports accurate COGS and margin reporting.
6. Continuous improvement & projects
* Identify and implement process improvements in purchasing, inventory and logistics to support growth and operational excellence.
* Support or lead projects such as onboarding new 3PLs, new product launches, and geographic expansions.
* Contribute to the wider operations strategy, ensuring alignment with company KPIs (revenue, gross margin, service levels).
Key KPIs
You will be given critical operating tasks against your KPIs for this role which include:
* Stock availability.
* Back order value and back order age.
* Inventory turns / days of inventory on hand.
* Supplier OTIF and lead time adherence.
* 3PL OTIF, order accuracy, and processing time.
* Forecast accuracy at product/category level.
* Inventory write‑offs and stock variance.
Skills & experienceEssential
* Proven experience in a purchasing, supply chain, logistics or inventory management role (preferably in a product, ecommerce, distribution or manufacturing business).
* Strong understanding of inventory management, demand planning and 3PL operations.
* Hands-on experience with an inventory / ERP system; experience with Unleashed (or similar cloud inventory platform) is highly desirable.
* Confident working with data: Excel/Sheets, reports, and basic analytics to drive decisions.
* Strong commercial awareness, understanding impact of purchasing and logistics on gross margin and cash.
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills (suppliers, 3PLs, sales, finance, operations).
* Highly organised, detail‑oriented, able to manage multiple suppliers and warehouses simultaneously.
* Full UK driving licence
Desirable
* Experience managing international supply chains and multiple 3PLs.
* Experience in S&OP or structured demand planning processes.
* Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
Work Location: In person