This role sits within our dynamic Purchasing team and is focused on the fulfilment of customer orders for leading global academic institutions and other educational establishments. As a Purchasing Assistant, you will play a key part in ensuring smooth and efficient order processing by liaising with publishers and distributors to resolve outstanding purchase orders.

You will be responsible for updating order statuses based on supplier feedback, as well as maintaining accurate internal records, including title and supplier files. This is a collaborative role that requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team to meet customer expectations.

• Monitoring of mailboxes for customer claims or cancellations, price and availability queries
• Produce weekly reports to enable monitoring of orders not recorded in the system
• Liaising with colleagues from various teams on orders and updates both within the UK and worldwide
• Chasing open purchase orders and updating systems as necessary
• Maintenance of comprehensive supplier and item master file database
• Assisting in the production of quotations for customers
• To establish and maintain print standing orders with publishers and distributors
• To purchase on a timely basis (upon publication) series titles where standing orders cannot be established with suppliers
• To research, set-up and maintain series records on the database
• To be responsible for your own selection of suppliers

• Previous experience in a library, bookseller, or publishing environment

• Excellent PC skills, particularly in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• A keen eye for detail and a methodical, logical work approach