About the role

Salary: Salary on application

Hours: Full-time (Monday-Friday, 08:30-16:30)

Closing date: Tuesday 10th November 2026

Role type: Permanent

1. Job Purpose

To support and manage the purchasing, stock procurement, warehousing and distribution functions for new goods, ensuring that products and stock are sourced efficiently, processed effectively and delivered to retail outlets in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The role is responsible for maximising product availability, maintaining appropriate stock levels, controlling operational costs and ensuring that distribution processes support retail performance, customer satisfaction and organisational objectives.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Purchasing and Procurement

- Manage supplier relationships, monitor performance and resolve purchasing issues
- Forecast purchasing requirements using sales data, stock levels and seasonal trends
- Raise and manage purchase orders, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company procedures
- Monitor product costs, margins and purchasing budgets
- Identify opportunities to reduce expenditure and improve purchasing efficiency
- Ensure products meet agreed quality, safety and regulatory standards
- Research new products, suppliers and market opportunities to support retail growth

B. Stock and Inventory Management

- Oversee stock control across warehouses, distribution facilities and retail locations
- Maintain accurate stock records and ensure effective stock rotation
- Monitor stock availability, slow-moving items, surplus stock and potential shortages
- Establish appropriate minimum and maximum stock levels
- Coordinate stock counts, reconciliations and investigations into discrepancies
- Reduce stock losses, damage, waste and unnecessary holding costs
- Ensure stock is stored securely and in accordance with relevant health and safety requirements
- Produce regular reports on stock availability, stock movements and inventory performance

C. Distribution and Logistics

- Plan and coordinate the movement of stock from suppliers and warehouses to retail outlets
- Develop efficient delivery schedules, routes and distribution procedures
- Manage the allocation of stock to stores according to demand, sales performance and operational requirements
- Oversee warehouse operations, goods-in, picking, packing, dispatch and returns
- Ensure deliveries are completed accurately, safely and within agreed timescales
- Resolve delivery delays, missing stock, damaged goods and distribution issues

D.



Team Leadership and Management

- Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement and excellent service
- Ensure compliance with company policies, safe working practices and relevant employment requirements

E. Financial Management and Cost Control

- Help prepare and manage purchasing and distribution budgets
- Help monitor expenditure against budget and investigate significant variances
- Identify opportunities to reduce transport, storage, handling and procurement costs
- Monitor the financial impact of stock losses, wastage and inefficient processes

F. Retail Support and Stakeholder Management

- Work closely with retail managers to understand product requirements and stock priorities.
- Maintain effective communication between purchasing, warehouse, distribution and retail teams.
- Respond promptly to urgent stock requests and operational challenges.
- Support new store openings, refurbishments, promotions and seasonal trading requirements
- Ensure retail outlets receive the correct stock in the correct quantities and within agreed timescales
- Gather feedback from stores and implement improvements to service delivery

G. Reporting and Continuous Improvement

- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Benchmark supplier performance and identify opportunities for operational improvement
- Support the delivery of the organisation’s wider retail and commercial strategy

3. Skills and Experience Required

Essential

- Retail experience
- Strong organisational and planning skills
- Good numerical, analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Experience controlling budgets and monitoring operational costs
- Strong communication and relationship management skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment
- Competence in Microsoft Office and stock management or inventory systems
- A practical approach to managing operational challenges and improving processes

Desirable

- Previous responsibility for warehouse and distribution functions
- Experience using retail management, ERP or warehouse management systems

4.



Personal Attributes

- Commercially aware and cost-conscious
- Proactive, organised and results-driven
- Strong leadership and decision-making skills
- Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy
- Versatile and able to respond to changing business requirements
- Committed to customer service and continuous improvement
- Able to build positive working relationships across all levels of the organisation

5. Scope of the Role

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that purchasing and distribution operations are efficient, commercially effective and responsive to the needs of the retail business. They will work collaboratively with senior management and retail teams to improve operational performance, support growth and deliver measurable cost savings.

6. General Responsibilities

The postholder will undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities and seniority of the role. They will comply with organisational policies, health and safety procedures, relevant legislation and agreed standards of professional conduct.

Other Information

Health and Safety

To ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out and be aware of the responsibilities placed on employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act. To maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

Data Protection

If you are required to do so, process and/or use information held on a computer or word processor in a fair and lawful way. To hold data only for specific registered purposes and not to disclose it in any way incompatible with such a purpose. To disclose data to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.

Equal Opportunities

It is the aim of St David's Hospice Care (SDHC) to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins, or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end, SDHC has an Equal Opportunities Policy and it is for each employee to contribute to its success.

No Smoking Policy

SDHC operates a No Smoking policy.

Conditions of Service:

In accordance with SDHC Employment Manual.

Pension Scheme

A Pension Scheme is offered on appointment. Staff may prefer to make their own arrangements.

Confidentiality

All information concerning patients/clients and staff must be treated as strictly confidential at all times.

📌 Retail Purchasing and Distribution Assistant (Mandamarri)
🏢 St David’s Hospice Care
📍 Mandamarri