Assistant Buyer

Blue Octopus Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

26 days annual leave

Life Assurance

Pension Scheme, 5% matched

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Salary Sacrifice opportunities

Group Discount Scheme

24 Hour Digital GP

Job summary

Blue Octopus Recruitment is seeking a proactive Assistant Buyer to support procurement across construction projects in Birmingham. This full-time role involves coordinating buying activities, managing schedules, and negotiating with suppliers to ensure best value.

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a sound understanding of construction processes, and demonstrate excellent organizational abilities. Benefits include a discretionary bonus, private medical insurance, and 26 days annual leave.

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of construction processes and market conditions.
• Knowledge of contracts and health & safety.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage buying schedules.
• Negotiate with suppliers for best value.
• Support selection of materials and identify alternatives.
• Maintain supply chain relationships.
• Promote best practice in procurement.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Attention to detail

Commercial awareness

Job description

Permanent – Full Time – 37.5 hours

We are seeking a proactive and commercially aware Assistant Buyer to support the effective delivery of procurement across our construction projects. You will play a key role in coordinating buying activities, ensuring materials and services are sourced in line with programme requirements and project objectives.

In this varied role, you’ll prepare and manage buying schedules, liaise and negotiate with suppliers to achieve best value, and support the selection of materials, including identifying suitable alternatives where appropriate. Working closely with site and estimating teams, you’ll help maintain strong supply chain relationships and contribute to consistent, high-quality delivery. You will also help promote best practice across the supply chain, supporting quality, value, and performance at every stage.

With strong communication and negotiation skills, you’ll build effective working relationships at all levels, demonstrating excellent organisation, attention to detail and commercial awareness. A sound understanding of construction processes, alongside knowledge of contracts, health & safety, and market conditions, will support your success in this role

Benefits

• Discretionary bonus, based on business performance.
• 26 days annual leave
• Life Assurance
• Pension Scheme, 5% matched, defined contribution scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Salary Sacrifice opportunities exist with our Cycle to Work and Additional Holiday Purchase
• Group Discount Scheme
• 24 Hour Digital GP

As an Investors in People Gold award employer, Lovell is the UK’s leading provider of mixed tenure affordable homes and has a reputation for innovation and excellence in the delivery of high-quality housing development and regeneration projects.

We are committed to enhancing the communities in which we work, building quality homes for real people and looking after our own people; developing talent is key to achieving this. We understand that the success of our organisation comes from the strengths, skills and personalities of our people. Lovell is an equal opportunities employer who encourage and value diversity and inclusion within our teams.

The Lovell culture is one that has been successful for many years. It is based on empowering colleagues to make decisions at a regional and local level, and to challenge the status quo whilst working as one to achieve our goals and make Lovell a great place to work for all.

Please refer to the Job Description upon completing your application.