The Details
Job Title: Purchasing Assistant
Reporting to: Commercial and Product Manager
Salary: £24,000 - £26,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Benefits:
- 20 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Health Care Plan
- Employer Pension Contribution
Join us and help ensure the products our customers rely on are available when they need them most.
We’re Nicola Jane (& you could be too.)
Nicola Jane began over 40 years ago with one mission: to help people feel like themselves again after breast surgery. Fast forward to today, we’re the UK’s leading specialist in post-surgery lingerie and swimwear.
With an amazing team behind us, a loyal customer base, and a growing online and retail presence – we’re showing the world that thoughtful design can change lives. In 2024 our sister company Browns More Hair Now, specialist in wig and hair loss solutions, joined our Group and we now operate both businesses alongside each other at our HQ in Chichester.
Behind every product we sell is a well-organised purchasing process that ensures the right stock is available at the right time. That's where you come in.
Where we’re at
Every day, we’re helping customers across the UK and beyond feel more confident, more comfortable, and more themselves. We’re expanding fast – and that’s where you come in.
To support that growth, we're looking for a Purchasing Assistant who is organised, detail-focused and proactive. You'll play an important role in ensuring products are purchased efficiently, stock levels are maintained, and suppliers are supported across both Nicola Jane and Browns.
Working closely with our Commercial and Product Manager, you'll help keep products flowing through the business, support supplier relationships, maintain accurate systems and ensure our customers receive the products they need when they need them.
Purchasing & Supplier Management
- Keeping stock moving: Raising and managing purchase orders across both Nicola Jane and Browns.
- Building supplier relationships: Liaising with suppliers regarding orders, deliveries, lead times and product availability.
- Staying ahead: Monitoring outstanding orders and following up on deliveries to ensure stock arrives on time.
- Problem solving: Investigating and resolving delivery discrepancies, supplier queries and supply issues.
- Supporting procurement: Assisting the Commercial and Product Manager with supplier administration, reporting and purchasing activities.
- Quality control: Coordinating returns of faulty products to suppliers and ensuring appropriate resolutions are achieved.
Stock & Inventory Support
- Maintaining accuracy: Keeping purchasing, stock and product records up to date across business systems.
- Supporting availability: Reviewing replenishment requirements and helping maintain optimum stock levels.
- Monitoring performance: Managing key reports, including Back Order and Parts with No Purchase Order reports.
- Keeping teams informed: Communicating supplier delays and stock issues to relevant departments.
- Stock administration: Booking supplier deliveries into systems when required.
- Supporting multiple locations: Assisting with stock transfers and replenishment across shops, holistic centres and business locations.
Product Administration
- Setting things up: Creating new product records, stock codes and barcodes.
- Managing pricing: Uploading and maintaining supplier price lists.
- Maintaining quality data: Ensuring product information and purchasing records remain accurate and up to date.
- Supporting improvements: Assisting with product administration projects and system updates.
Customer & Operational Support
- Helping customers: Processing retail and trade orders via telephone and email when required.
- Resolving issues: Managing customer returns and exchanges in line with company procedures.
- Team support: Providing cover and support for despatch operations during busy periods or staff absence.
- Working together: Collaborating with teams across both businesses to ensure excellent customer service and stock availability.
What we're looking for
You don't need to have it all, but here's what would help:
- Experience in a purchasing, procurement, stock control, supply chain, customer service or administrative role.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
- Strong communication skills and confidence building relationships with suppliers and colleagues.
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
- The ability to work independently while remaining a collaborative team player.
- A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn.
Bonus points if you have:
- Experience working in retail, healthcare, distribution, manufacturing or e-commerce.
- Knowledge of stock management, purchasing or inventory processes.
- Experience using ERP, stock management or business systems such as Elucid.
- Experience maintaining product data, pricing files or purchasing reports.
Pay: £24,420.00-£26,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Financial planning services
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Private dental insurance
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
