Wollaston
Job Opportunity: Purchasing & Planning Coordinator (Raw Materials & Packaging) Location: Wellingborough, Northamptonshire Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £28,000 – £32,000 (Depending on experience) About the Role A growing specialist manufacturer in the chemical sector is seeking a Purchasing & Planning Coordinator to manage raw material and packaging procurement, stock control, and production planning. This is a hands-on role in a small, fast-paced manufacturing environment, ideal for someone with experience in supply chain or planning roles within a regulated or process-driven industry. Key Responsibilities Purchasing (Raw Materials & Packaging) • Source and procure raw materials, additives, solvents, and packaging, • Monitor supplier lead times, pricing, and minimum order quantities (MOQs), • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, • Manage purchase orders, delivery schedules, and relevant documentation (SDS, COAs) Demand Planning & Forecasting • Work with sales and management to manage rolling forecasts, • Translate forecasts into purchasing and production requirements, • Adjust planning based on seasonality, customer orders, and market trends Inventory Management • Monitor inventory of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, • Maintain accurate stock records and conduct regular cycle counts, • Highlight slow-moving or obsolete inventory and recommend actions Production Planning • Plan production schedules based on customer orders and batch efficiencies, • Coordinate with production and laboratory teams to ensure raw material availability, • Optimise capacity planning to reduce downtime Systems & Reporting • Maintain purchasing and inventory data within ERP/MRP systems, • Generate reports on stock levels, purchasing KPIs, and forecast accuracy, • Track actual usage vs. forecast and investigate variances Required Skills & Experience Essential • 2+ years in a buyer/purchasing or planning role within manufacturing (ideally chemicals or raw materials), • Strong organisational and planning skills, • Solid Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, formulas), • Understanding of supply chain processes and cost impact of purchasing decisions, • Awareness of health & safety and regulatory compliance (e.g. SDS, REACH) Desirable • Background in chemical, resin, or polyurethane-based industries, • Familiarity with ERP or MRP software, • Experience in a small business/SME environment, • Knowledge of Incoterms and international material shipping Personal Attributes • Proactive and detail-oriented, • Calm under pressure and good at problem-solving, • Strong communication skills across all levels, • Team player with a flexible, hands-on approach What’s on Offer • An opportunity to make a real impact in a growing business, • Supportive, close-knit team environment, • Career progression in supply chain and operations, • Competitive salary and benefits