Assistant Buyer

Ground Control; Billericay; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Private GP service

Life insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Holiday buy scheme

Recognition schemes

Job summary

Ground Control in the United Kingdom is seeking an Assistant Buyer to join our Finance team. You’ll manage purchase orders from start to finish, source materials, equipment and services, and build strong supplier relationships to keep projects moving.

Work collaboratively with contract managers and internal teams, compare quotations, handle queries, and keep purchasing records accurate. This is a hybrid role with five days in the Billericay office to start, moving to about three days thereafter.

Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing, procurement or logistics is useful.
• Able to manage multiple tasks in a busy environment.
• Confident with suppliers and internal teams over the phone.
• Attention to detail with purchase orders and invoices.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchase orders from start to finish, ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery.
• Source materials, equipment, plant, consumables and services from suitable suppliers.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, monitoring availability and deliveries.
• Collaborate with contract managers and internal teams on pricing and lead times.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations to support value-driven decisions.
• Handle delivery, invoice and purchase order queries and resolve issues.
• Respond to urgent requirements and adjust priorities as needed.
• Keep purchasing records accurate and easy to find.

Skills

Purchasing

Supplier management

Communication

Organization

Problem solving

Phone communication

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

If you enjoy a role where there's always something to get stuck into, you'll feel at home here. As an Assistant Buyer, you'll be part of a close-knit Finance team supporting our Landscape Design & Energy division, helping make sure our teams have the materials, equipment and services they need to keep things moving. You'll build relationships with suppliers and work closely with our contract managers and wider teams, handling everything from sourcing and comparing prices to arranging deliveries and sorting out any queries along the way. It's a role that will keep you busy, give you plenty of variety and allow you to see the impact of your work day to day. We're looking for someone who is organised, proactive and enjoys getting things sorted. Someone who is comfortable picking up the phone, asking questions and finding a solution when something doesn't quite go to plan. You'll have the support of the team around you, but also the space to take ownership of your workload and get on with things.

What you’ll do:

• Manage purchase orders from start to finish, making sure orders are raised accurately, tracked and progressed through to delivery.
• Source materials, equipment, plant, consumables and services, finding suitable suppliers and options that meet the needs of the business.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, using a friendly and confident approach to check availability, chase deliveries and resolve issues when they arise.
• Work closely with contract managers and internal teams, keeping everyone updated on pricing, availability, lead times and expected deliveries.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, helping the business make informed purchasing decisions and achieve good overall value.
• Handle delivery, invoice and purchase order queries, investigating issues and working with suppliers and internal teams to get them resolved.
• Respond to changing and urgent requirements, adapting your priorities and finding practical alternatives when plans change.
• Keep purchasing records accurate and up to date, helping the wider team stay organised and ensuring information is easy to find when needed.

What you’ll get:

• A varied role with plenty to get involved in, supporting purchasing across a broad range of materials, equipment, services and requirements.
• The opportunity to build your purchasing experience, gaining exposure to suppliers, commercial decisions and the wider procurement process.
• A close-knit and supportive team, where you’ll work alongside experienced colleagues while having the space to develop your own confidence and knowledge.
• Real ownership of your workload, with the opportunity to take something from an initial request through to successful delivery.
• Hybrid working once you’re settled in, with five days in the Billericay office initially to help you get familiar with the team, systems and processes, moving to around three days in the office thereafter., We actively support and promote an inclusive culture, ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process and across all stages of employment, including training, development, promotion, pay, and termination. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees, and to creating a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation.
• Competitive salary - aligned with your skills and experience
• Pension scheme - helping you plan for the future
• Recognition schemes - celebrating and rewarding great work
• Private GP service - fast, convenient access to medical support
• Life insurance - providing added peace of mind
• Subsidised gym membership - supporting your health and wellbeing
• Holiday buy scheme - purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave

Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, buying, supply chain, logistics, coordination or another busy environment would be useful, but we’re open to different backgrounds.
• Someone who is organised and comfortable managing a busy workload, including keeping on top of regular tasks while responding to new requests as they come in.
• Confident communication skills, particularly someone who is happy speaking directly with suppliers and internal teams over the phone when something needs resolving.
• A proactive and self-sufficient approach, with the ability to learn how things work and then take ownership of your workload.
• Good commercial awareness, with an ability to compare prices, consider value and make sensible purchasing decisions.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when dealing with purchase orders, deliveries, invoices and supplier information.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach, with the common sense to investigate an issue, ask the right questions and work out what needs to happen next.
• Comfortable learning new systems and technology. Experience with Microsoft Office or ERP/purchasing systems would be useful, but Dynamics experience isn’t essential as training will be provided.

If you enjoy being part of a busy team, like keeping things moving and want the opportunity to develop your purchasing experience, we’d love to hear from you.

About the company

Ground Control is a leading external maintenance business and biodiversity expert committed to enhancing and improving the physical environment for our customers and their communities. We’re a purpose driven, values centred business, on a mission to realise the potential of human nature by bringing together people, places and the planet. Human Nature - At Its Best Founded in 1973 Turnover Growing Daily Finance · Head Office