Purchasing Administrator

Location: Chilton Industrial Estate, Sudbury, Suffolk

Salary: £24,863 + bonus & company benefits

Hours: Full Time (37.5 per week, Monday to Friday)

Flexible benefits, up to 27 days holiday + bank holidays & additional leave purchase scheme

Sector: Packaging Distribution – Procurement

Start or build your career in purchasing with a market leader

At Macfarlane Packaging, we're in the business of protecting what matters – our people, our customers and the planet. With over 75 years of industry expertise, we combine stability with innovation in a fast-paced environment. We're equally passionate about growing careers, and this is a fantastic opportunity to learn the world of purchasing and supply chain from the ground up, with full training and support from an experienced team.

Your Role: Purchasing Administrator

Based at our Sudbury site, you'll join our friendly local procurement team, reporting to the Senior Buyer and working alongside our local Buyers and Inventory Controller. Your focus will be making sure stock is ordered accurately and on time, so our customers get what they need, when they need it.

No two days are quite the same. One moment you'll be raising purchase orders and chasing suppliers, the next you'll be helping our customer service team find the right solution for a customer.

What You'll Be Doing

• Raising and administering purchase orders for standard and non-standard stock items, keeping stock at the right levels while keeping costs down
• Contacting suppliers to confirm orders have been received and requesting order acknowledgements
• Flagging any delivery issues or discrepancies to the sales team so they can be resolved quickly
• Keeping Excel stock spreadsheets and pricing sheets accurate and up to date
• Working with our logistics team to maintain our 24/48-hour delivery schedule for customers
• Supporting our customer service team with up-to-date delivery information and alternative solutions for customers
• Providing day-to-day support to the local procurement team, along with general office duties
• Building your knowledge of our packaging solutions and the wider supply chain

What We're Looking For

No purchasing experience? No problem. Full training and a development pathway are provided. What matters most is that you're organised, accurate and keen to learn. We'd love to see:

Essential:

• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to your work
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office (especially Excel), and the ability to pick up new systems quickly
• Clear, confident communication skills, both on the phone and by email
• The ability to stay organised and prioritise in a busy, fast-paced environment
• A team player who enjoys working as part of a small office-based team

Highly advantageous:

• Previous office-based or administrative experience – this will really make your application stand out
• Experience in a customer service or commercial environment

Desirable:

• Any experience of purchasing, procurement or stock control
• Familiarity with inventory management or procurement software
• Additional qualifications in administration, business or customer service

Why Choose Macfarlane?

We reward your contribution with a competitive salary, bonus and a benefits package designed to support your work-life balance, including:

• 25 days holiday (rising to 27 with service) + bank holidays
• Flexible benefits, including enhanced pension and life assurance
• Wellbeing and employee assistance programmes
• Employee discounts, volunteering days and more!

Shape Your Future with Us

At Macfarlane Group, we empower our people with structured career pathways and continuous training, so whether you're taking your first steps in purchasing or building on your experience, your future is bright with us.

Ready to Start Your Career in Purchasing? All applications will be acknowledged, and we will be holding local interviews in the coming weeks.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.

No recruitment agencies, please.