Assistant Buyer

BCS Group; Walsall; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading civil engineering firm in Walsall is seeking an Assistant Buyer to provide a professional material supply service to support nationwide delivery teams. You will be responsible for procuring construction materials, negotiating with suppliers, and ensuring ethical sourcing practices. The ideal candidate has relevant experience, excellent negotiation skills, and strong communication abilities. The company offers competitive salary and a range of benefits including a company pension and training opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Company pension

Private medical

Profit share

25 days annual leave

Flexible benefits

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in a similar role, ideally within the rail or construction/engineering industry.
• Experienced negotiator with the ability to establish long-term relationships.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with external and internal parties.

Responsibilities

• Procuring construction materials and related services across all operational sectors.
• Carrying out supplier selection and negotiating prices.
• Maintaining knowledge of purchasing strategy and processes.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Problem-solving skills

Education

CIPS qualification or working towards it

Relevant degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

In-house purchasing systems

Job description

Overview

Barhale is a family-valued civil engineering and infrastructure specialist. Established in 1980, Barhale is one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure companies in the UK, delivering design, civil engineering and maintenance services across multiple sectors including Water, Transport, Built environment and Energy. We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, within frameworks, joint ventures and alliances, as well as standalone projects. Our direct delivery model emphasises people as our greatest asset, with frontline delivery teams, management and support services sourced, trained and retained. We employ over 1,200 people nationwide.

Barhale has a range of specialist skills to support civil engineering and infrastructure activities, including tunnelling, MEICA, temporary and permanent design, steel fabrication, signs (design and fabrication), and health & safety equipment and PPE.

Company information: www.barhale.co.uk

The Role

Assistant Buyer

The Role: You will be responsible for providing our nationwide delivery teams with a company-compliant, professional material supply service while supporting other business needs. You will communicate with internal business units, external suppliers, trade bodies and associations to achieve the best value on goods and services, while ensuring materials are sourced ethically and sustainably across the supply chain. You will join a team at the forefront of developing Barhale’s Social Impact and Sustainability objectives, playing a key role in enforcing those goals.

Key Responsibilities

Buying Tasks

• Procuring construction materials and related services across all operational sectors.
• Carrying out supplier selection, evaluating quotations, and negotiating prices and logistics.
• Proactively identifying market trends, product and industry developments and supply chain innovations through engagement with external partners, led by the Procurement Manager on specific commodities or categories.
• Providing commercial assistance on the contracts being procured.
• Liaising with sites and supply chain partners, developing relationships to ensure a planned “right-first-time” service regarding safety, quality, programme, commercial aspects and overall best value.
• Working with and supporting internal business needs regarding commercial and product awareness at all stages of the construction process, ensuring major programme requirements are delivered.
• Ensuring continuous communication with other team members to review contract progress and address issues promptly.
• Maintaining knowledge of purchasing strategy and processes to ensure a professional and auditable procurement contract is in place.

Accountabilities

• Operating within financial governance levels
• Managing work priorities and maximising efficiencies
• Maintaining positive supplier relationships
• Adherence to procurement procedures

Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintenance and upkeep of order and supply chain records using the company’s purchase order system and procedures.
• Providing reports, data and other material identified by the Procurement Manager related to the department and whole business requirements, including KPIs.
• Submitting detailed analysis to procurement and project teams for approval in line with governance.

Key Measures & Targets

• Providing evidence of best value regarding procurement, including commercial betterment, quality and efficiency.
• Evidencing supply chain engagement, including performance management under company objectives.

Key Relationships

• Procurement Manager / Supply Chain Manager / Senior Buyer / External Hire Desk Manager and all procurement personnel in central and regional teams
• All internal departments including site operations, HSEQ, estimating, accounts and business development
• External supply chain partners

Essential

• Relevant experience in a similar role, ideally within the rail or construction/engineering industry
• Experienced negotiator with the ability to establish long-term relationships and an engaged, collaborative supply chain
• Demonstrable commercial awareness with the ability to control and monitor budgets
• Strong communication skills for engaging with external and internal parties, including a confident and professional telephone manner
• Excellent computer literacy with experience using Microsoft Office
• In-house purchasing systems
• Ability to cope with a demanding, fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
• Ability to make decisions using own initiative and work as part of a team

Desirable

• CIPS qualification or working towards CIPS
• Relevant degree or equivalent, or qualified by experience (QBE)
• A full UK driving licence

Caring and investing in you

Barhale values have been embedded for over 40 years and guide how we care for and invest in people. As a Gold Investors in People company and a Sunday Times 100 Best Company to Work For, we are committed to investing in people, supporting well-being and career aspirations from day one. Benefits may include: competitive salary, company pension, life assurance, private medical, profit share, 25 days of annual leave plus 8 public holidays and loyalty days, volunteering leave, Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits via salary sacrifice, company car/green car scheme/van or allowance (dependent on position), leadership and management training, regular line management engagement and appraisal, development through internal and external training, and continuous service awards.

Would you like to know more?

Please contact our Recruitment team via [e-mail]