The Company
Searchlight is a long established, privately owned designer and distributor of decorative lighting. With a UK headquarters featuring modern offices, a 17,000 sq. Ft showroom and a 120,000 sq. Ft national distribution centre, the business also operates a highly capable sourcing and quality office in China, a German Showroom and a distribution depot in Poland both serving the wider European market.
The company has built a strong reputation for product innovation, high quality manufacturing partnerships and reliable service. Its long tenured leadership team has created a culture that is hands on, entrepreneurial and collaborative, where deep product knowledge, trust and strong supplier relationships are central to success.
With significant future growth opportunities in Europe and continued investment in product, supply chain and operations, this is an exciting time to join the organisation as it plans for its next phase of development.
The Role
Reporting to the Managing Director, the Head of Buying & Supply Chain will oversee the full end to end supply chain — from product development and sourcing, through to QA/QC, stock management, freight, and final customer delivery. The role also carries leadership responsibility for the Buying, Imports, QA/QC and Stock Control teams.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the full product lifecycle, ensuring ranges are commercially robust, trend aligned and margin optimised.
- Overseeing global sourcing, factory onboarding, supplier rationalisation and negotiation across the Far East.
- Strengthening supplier relationships through regular visits, transparent communication and performance management.
- Managing quality assurance and quality control across the China and UK teams.
- Directing inbound stock flow, critical path management, freight consolidation and logistics planning.
- Optimising stock levels, managing availability, and identifying overstock/exit strategies.
- Providing commercial insight to sales teams, supporting customer meetings and aligning the range to market demand.
- Driving process improvement and implementing KPIs across all supply chain functions
- Regular international travel, particularly to Chinese factories, will be required to manage supplier performance and new product development.
The Person:
We are looking for an experienced buying & supply chain leader with the ability to operate strategically while remaining hands on in a fast paced, product led environment.
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Strong end to end supply chain experience in homewares, lighting, interiors or related consumer products.
- Proven capability working with Far East suppliers, including sourcing, factory selection, cost negotiation and quality management.
- A commercially minded, “trader’s mentality” — confident interpreting data, reading trends, shaping ranges and protecting margin
- Broad operational knowledge across stock control, imports, freight (sea and air), 3PLs and warehouse interface.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary operational teams in a hands on, entrepreneurial setting.
- A low ego, relationship driven leadership style capable of building credibility with long serving teams and overseas colleagues.
- Curiosity for design, product and home interiors, with an appreciation of how lighting influences spaces.