Assistant Buyer

Colas Rail UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks an entry-level Assistant Buyer to support procurement activities in a dynamic environment. This role involves negotiating with suppliers, managing purchasing processes, and ensuring compliance with internal procedures. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills and a keen understanding of procurement processes. Join a forward-thinking company that values safety and innovation, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. This is a fantastic opportunity to kickstart your career in purchasing and supply chain management within the rail industry.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

26 days Annual Leave

Industry leading Life Assurance

Healthcare Cash Plan

Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme

Pension Scheme

Eye Care Vouchers

Long Service Award

Season Ticket Loan

Occupational Health Service

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of buying experience required.
• Strong negotiating skills are essential for this role.
• Understanding of health, safety, and environmental requirements.

Responsibilities

• Identify purchasing activities to achieve best value for money.
• Negotiate with suppliers to agree on contract terms.
• Assist budget holders in capturing savings.

Skills

Procurement processes

Commercial awareness

Negotiating skills

Customer awareness

Supply Chain management

Computer literacy (MS Office, Mentor, Access, Excel)

Previous buying experience

Literacy and numeracy

Knowledge of railway terminology

Excellent written communication

Education

4 GCSEs including Maths and English

MCIPS qualification (desirable)

Tools

MS Office

Databases

Job description

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At Colas Rail, we have over one hundred years of experience in delivering major innovations across our sector. Every day, thousands of train run on tracks built or maintained by Colas Rail. We deliver on the challenges set by a rapidly changing railway environment - constantly seeking to adapt our behaviour and culture to not only meet and exceed the expectations of our customers and stakeholders, but to also continuously develop and support our people.

Purpose of the Role

To assist our delivery teams with a professional materials, plant and service supply

Person Specification

The Job Holder Will Have

• Experience of Procurement processes
• Commercial awareness
• Negotiating skills
• Customer awareness
• Presentation and meeting skills
• Supply Chain management
• Computer literacy-MS Office, Mentor, Access, Excel, Databases
• Previous buying experience (minimum 2 years)
• Literacy and numeracy
• Knowledge of railway terminology and procedures
• Good telephone manner
• Excellent written communication
• 4 GCSE’s inc. Maths and English
• Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environmental requirements
• PTS (desirable)
• MCIPS qualified (or desirable)
• Required to attend Competition Compliance training course.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Identifying allocated purchasing activities to achieve best value for money:
• Applying the five rights of purchasing and value for money criteria to any purchase of goods and services
• Evaluating the purchases of goods and services on the basis of the total costs of ownership (or whole life costs)
• Negotiating with suppliers and customers to agree contract terms and relationships that will achieve the interests of the organisation
• Creating savings and improve efficiencies through negotiations with suppliers
• Assisting budget holders to capture savings that contribute to reductions in budgets
• Assisting the Procurement Manager and Buyers to deliver against the annual savings plan by identifying, achieving and recording cost savings:
• Comparing and evaluating quotations received from potential suppliers and dealing with any queries or concerns about completed documentation
• Compiling timely and accurate invitations to tender taking into account the requirements of stakeholders
• Promoting the use of competitive pricing with suppliers through monitoring prices and obtaining quotations when appropriate
• Comparing historical prices with newly quoted prices and evaluating the reasons for any significant discrepancies and take appropriate action to secure competitive pricing
• Analysing available data on the costs, prices, margins and mark ups of submitted process in order to negotiate competitive prices
• Negotiating with suppliers to reduce prices whilst retaining or improving other aspects of value for money
• Working with the Procurement Manager and Buyers to assist with improvements and streamlining of processes to reduce costs:
• Ensuring that procedures are complied with by internal stakeholders and suppliers
• Ensuring that internal stakeholders obtain approvals for the commitments to requisitions, orders and invoices
• Ensuring that requisitions, orders, invoices and other documentation relating to procurement and supply are clear and correct
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested
• As you will expect the organisation may change from time to time and you will be expected to meet the operational requirements.
• Any other reasonable duties as required from time to time.
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• 26 days Annual Leave
• Industry leading Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Long Service Award
• Season Ticket Loan
• Occupational Health Service
  
  

Colas Rail in the United Kingdom hold three core values: Care, Share and Dare. We take care of our employees, always ensuring safety is a top priority and we nurture our collective wellbeing. We share a passion for what we do, celebrate our achievements and value high standards like nowhere else. We dare to take on new challenges; we are one of the international leaders in our industry. We continually innovate and expand in new markets.

We value and encourage diversity in our workforce, regardless of background, disability, age, religion, or gender. As part of our aim to deliver quality services, we are committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination. We will create a workforce that is reflective of the communities we work and live in. We are committed to the Disability Confidence Scheme, and as such we operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Purchasing and Supply Chain

• Industries

  Railroad Equipment Manufacturing

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