Buyer / Buying & Operations - Luxury British Design Brand

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Procurement | Bespoke Design & Manufacturing | British Craftsmanship | Specialist Materials | Luxury Brand Operations | Family Founded & Run Business</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Exceptional pieces begin with inspired design. Bringing them to life takes exceptional people.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">At David Harber, we create internationally renowned sculptures, sundials and water features for some of the world’s most prestigious private, commercial and public spaces.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Behind every piece lies a carefully coordinated blend of creative talent, skilled craftsmanship, specialist materials and trusted partners.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">As our Buyer, you'll bring these elements together, helping our team translate artistic vision into beautifully finished work, ready to take its place in extraordinary settings.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You'll take ownership of procurement, supplier relationships, materials and stock, working closely with our design and workshop teams to make sure every commission receives the care, planning and attention it deserves.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Beyond the day-to-day, you'll have the opportunity to refine how we work, introduce better systems and grow into broader operational leadership within an established British luxury design business.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Essential experience</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You'll have experience or a strong awareness for buying raw materials and components, such as steel and other metals, stone, timber or other specialist materials, for a manufacturing or bespoke production environment. The role might also suit someone who has worked in FF&E procurement for luxury design or architect studio.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">The Role at a Glance</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Buyer / Buying & Operations (Procurement & Operations Manager) </p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Oxfordshire – Fully site-based during probation, with potential for one day working from home thereafter</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">£42,000 - £52,000 DOE</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Plus Benefits</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Full Time | Permanent</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Company: Multi-award-winning, internationally renowned luxury sculptures, sundials and water features</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Our Values: Creativity. Teamwork. Excellence. Collaboration. Pride</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Environment: Bespoke Design | British Craftsmanship | Exceptional Materials</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Focus: Procurement | Supplier Relationships | Materials & Stock | Workshop Operations | Delivery</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Systems: Sage 200 ERP | Inventory & Process Improvement</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Career Progression: Opportunity to Develop Towards Head of Operations</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">About David Harber</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">David Harber is an internationally recognised British design business whose sculptures, sundials and water features bring artistry and individuality to private gardens, public landscapes and distinguished commercial spaces around the world.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Every piece brings together creative vision, craftsmanship and engineering, with exceptional attention to form, materials and finish.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">That same care extends behind the scenes. Our designers, craftspeople and wider team work closely with specialist suppliers and partners to bring each piece to life. You’ll play a central role in making that collaboration work beautifully.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">The Opportunity</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">We are looking for an experienced Procurement / Purchasing / Ops professional from a bespoke production or luxury products' environment to take ownership of procurement, supplier relationships, materials and stock, while playing a key role in the day-to-day operational flow of our Oxfordshire workshop.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You'll be close to the workshop, working directly with production, design, sales and finance to make sure the right materials and services are available at the right time, to the right specification and at the right cost.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You'll also have the opportunity to help improve the way we operate, including supporting the implementation of Sage 200, strengthening stock control and developing more effective purchasing and operational processes.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Over time, there is scope for this role to develop into broader operational leadership.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Where You’ll Make an Impact</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Thoughtful Procurement & Trusted Partnerships</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Lead purchasing across specialist materials and subcontracted services.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Build dependable supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, terms and lead times.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Monitor quality, supplier performance, expenditure and supply risks.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Ensure our craftspeople have the right materials at the right time, balancing quality, availability and cost.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">From Creative Vision to Delivery</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Coordinate operational priorities across design, workshop production, finishing and delivery.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Take ownership of stock accuracy, inventory management and materials planning.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Organise logistics, deliveries and fleet</p>

<h5 class="fw-bold text-success mt-4 mb-3">requirements.</h5>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Support high standards of Health & Safety, maintaining clear records and practical processes.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Refine How We Work</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Identify opportunities to improve workflow, reduce unnecessary costs and resolve delays.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Strengthen communication, planning and accountability across teams.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Support the successful implementation and adoption of Sage 200 ERP.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Lead two direct reports and help develop the wider operational function.</p>

<h5 class="fw-bold text-success mt-4 mb-3">About You</h5>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You understand what it takes to bring a beautifully designed physical product to life: the right materials, trusted suppliers, careful planning and close collaboration with the people making it.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Your background might include luxury interiors, FF&E, bespoke furniture, architectural lighting, decorative metalwork, stone or another design-led business where craftsmanship and quality matter.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You’ll be comfortable working closely with a workshop, understanding practical</p>

<h5 class="fw-bold text-success mt-4 mb-3">requirements and balancing creative priorities with commercial realities.</h5>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You may already be working in Buying, Procurement & Operations and ready to take on wider responsibility. What matters is your ability to bring clarity, care and commercial judgement to a varied, hands-on role.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You’ll Bring:</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Procurement, buying, operations and supplier-management experience.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Confident negotiation and cost-control skills, with an appreciation of quality and craftsmanship.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Experience managing physical materials, stock and inventory.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Strong planning skills and the ability to coordinate competing priorities.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">A track record of improving processes and making day-to-day operations run more smoothly.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Clear communication and a collaborative approach across creative, commercial and workshop teams.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Practical problem-solving, attention to detail and a willingness to take ownership.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Even Better If You Bring:</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Experience with bespoke, luxury or high-value products.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Knowledge of metals, stone or other specialist materials.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">ERP implementation experience, particularly Sage 200.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Workshop planning, logistics or fleet experience.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Health & Safety knowledge.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Experience applying structured process improvements in a craft or design-led setting.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Why David Harber?</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">This is an opportunity to bring your commercial and organisational strengths to a business creating pieces of lasting beauty.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">You’ll work close to the design and craftsmanship, see the tangible results of your contribution and have the scope to shape how the business operates.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">As your knowledge and responsibilities grow, there is a longer-term opportunity to develop towards Head of Operations.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Bring Your Eye for Detail to Something Exceptional.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">If you enjoy working with talented people, appreciate fine craftsmanship and want more scope to shape how things happen, this could be your next move.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Apply now to build your next chapter with David Harber.</p>

<p class="text-muted mb-3">Application notice... We take your privacy seriously. As you might expect you may be contacted by email, text or telephone. Your data is processed by our talent partner RR (Recruitment Revolution) on the basis of their legitimate interests in fulfilling the recruitment process. Please refer to their Data Privacy Policy & Notice on their website for further details</p>