Purchasing Assistant - Optima UK Inc Ltd : Job Details

Job Role: Purchasing / Procurement Assistant Location: Leicestershire

Shift: Full time / Permanent - Monday - Thursday: 08:30 - 16:30 / Fri - 08:30 - 13:00pmSalary: £25k - £28k p/a

The role:

Reporting into the Senior Project Manager, my client is looking for purchasing / procurement assistant to join their existing team.

Job Role Responsibilities:

• Assist in raising purchase orders, ensuring accuracy of specifications, pricing, and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate with suppliers to manage order confirmations, lead times, and shipment schedules.
• Monitor stock levels, ensuring adequate materials are available to meet project timelines.
• Process requisitions and assist with sourcing new suppliers for high-end materials in line with client requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, particularly in the luxury materials and manufacturing sectors.
• Track and manage the procurement database, ensuring stock levels are sufficient to meet ongoing project demands.
• Ensure all procurement documentation is accurate, complete, and filed in accordance with company policies.
• Work closely with the design and project management teams to ensure that materials are sourced and delivered in line with project timelines.
• Collaborate with internal teams to understand project needs and provide feedback on lead times and material availability.
• Provide general administrative support to the procurement department, including scheduling meetings, updating records, and preparing reports.
• Monitor and report on procurement spending, ensuring costs are in line with budgets.
• Assist in the preparation of reports for senior management on supplier performance, cost savings, and procurement effectiveness.

The Candidate:

• 2+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, or a related administrative role, ideally within the retail or shopfitting sectors.
• An understanding of high-end materials, fixtures, (e.g., wood, metal, glass, and bespoke manufacturing).
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and procurement software.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines.