Buyer Construction
7 days ago
Saint Helens
Construction Buyer Location: Liverpool / Warrington / 2 days from home Salary: £41,500 Car Allowance: Circa £4,000 Working Pattern: Hybrid, 39 hours per week About the Role An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Construction Buyer to join a growing Procurement team based in Liverpool. The role would suit an experienced procurement or purchasing professional with a background in construction, housing, social housing, repairs and maintenance (R&M), facilities/property maintenance, or construction materials procurement , who is looking to take the next step in their career. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the wider business with the procurement of materials, works and services, working closely with internal stakeholders, suppliers and colleagues across the Group to deliver value for money, effective supplier relationships, compliance and continuous improvement . This is a hands-on procurement position, covering the full purchasing lifecycle – from understanding requirements and market engagement through to enquiry, tendering, negotiation and order placement. The role will also involve resolving purchasing and supplier issues, supporting supplier performance and identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes. The Procurement team is a relatively new function, making this an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to join at an exciting stage of its development. With planned growth across the business, the successful candidate will have significant scope to contribute to the development of the function and make a genuine impact. Key Responsibilities Working alongside the Head of Supply Chain, Category Managers and colleagues across the business, the successful candidate will: Manage and support procurement activity across construction materials, repairs and maintenance materials, works and services. Manage procurement exercises from cradle to grave , including fact finding, specification development, market engagement, issuing enquiries, tender receipt and evaluation, negotiation and order placement. Undertake market testing, RFIs, RFQs, ITTs and mini-competitions in line with procurement policies and procedures. Work closely with internal customers and stakeholders to understand requirements and develop appropriate procurement strategies. Obtain and analyse supplier quotations and tenders, ensuring value for money and commercial requirements are achieved. Negotiate supplier rates, terms and conditions where appropriate. Place orders and ensure procurement activity is accurately recorded, transparent and fully auditable. Support supplier onboarding and resolve supplier account issues. Build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Attend meetings, working groups and contract reviews as required. Assist with supplier performance management and continuous improvement initiatives. Identify opportunities for cost savings, efficiencies, value engineering and improved ways of working. Support procurement benchmarking and market testing across the Group. Maintain accurate procurement workplans, project information and savings data. Assist with the development and implementation of electronic procurement solutions, consolidated invoicing and improved management information. Resolve purchasing, delivery and invoice queries and provide support to stakeholders when issues arise. Contribute to the development and improvement of procurement processes, systems and procedures. Support larger procurement projects through data analysis, tender preparation and evaluation. Provide guidance and support to colleagues and, where appropriate, assist with mentoring more junior members of the purchasing function. Ensure all procurement activity complies with company policies, financial regulations, standing orders and delegated authority levels. Promote best practice, innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement across the procurement function. Ensure health and safety, equality and fairness are embedded within the delivery of procurement services. About the Candidate The ideal candidate will be able to hit the ground running and operate confidently within a busy procurement environment. Applicants should have at least 2–3 years' relevant purchasing or procurement experience , ideally gained within one or more of the following sectors: Construction Housing Social housing Repairs and maintenance Construction materials Facilities or property maintenance Practical experience of managing procurement activity through the full purchasing cycle is particularly important. Experience of cradle-to-grave procurement – from fact finding and enquiry issue through to tender receipt, evaluation, negotiation, order placement and subsequent supplier management – would be highly advantageous. The successful candidate is likely to demonstrate: Strong commercial and negotiation skills. Experience sourcing construction materials, works or services. The ability to obtain, analyse and compare supplier quotations and tenders. Confidence negotiating rates, terms and commercial arrangements. Experience dealing directly with suppliers and resolving account or purchasing issues. Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively with people across different areas of a business. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities. A proactive approach to identifying cost savings and process improvements. The confidence to work independently and make informed decisions within agreed procurement frameworks. Strong communication and relationship-building skills. Good IT and procurement systems experience. A CIPS qualification or relevant procurement qualification would be advantageous but is not essential. Previous experience supporting or mentoring junior purchasing colleagues would also be beneficial. The Person The role would suit someone who is comfortable taking ownership and working with a high degree of autonomy. As the Procurement function continues to develop, this is not a position where the successful candidate will simply be expected to follow an established process. There will be an opportunity to bring existing experience to the role, challenge current ways of working and help shape how the Buying function operates as it grows. The successful candidate will need to be able to stand on their own two feet , manage their own workload and build credibility quickly with both internal stakeholders and suppliers. A commercially minded, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach is required, alongside the confidence to negotiate and challenge where necessary while maintaining positive working relationships. Why Join? This is an exciting time to join both the business and the Procurement team. The Buying function is relatively new and continues to develop, providing the successful candidate with the opportunity to have a genuine influence on how procurement operates across the organisation. With planned business growth , there is a clear focus on developing the supply chain, improving supplier performance and delivering greater value through procurement. The successful candidate will work as part of a collaborative team while retaining the autonomy to manage their own procurement activity and contribute to wider procurement projects. The role offers: £41,500 salary Circa £4,000 car allowance Hybrid working 39-hour working week Benefits package aligned with the wider Group Opportunity to work across a growing organisation Regular interaction with senior stakeholders, suppliers and operational teams The opportunity to help shape a developing Procurement function Career development and ongoing learning opportunities Interested? This opportunity would suit an experienced Buyer or Procurement professional with a background in construction, housing or social housing maintenance who is looking for a position where their practical procurement experience can make a tangible difference. Relevant backgrounds could include Buyer, Construction Buyer, Procurement Buyer, Purchasing Manager or Procurement Officer , particularly where the individual has experience managing procurement activity across the full purchasing lifecycle and is ready to progress into a Junior Manager-level position . Please email or call to apply 07980 006 436 TPBN1_UKTJ