Assistant Buyer - Fixed Term Contract

Ground Control; Billericay; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Recognition schemes

Private GP service

Life insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Holiday buy scheme

Job summary

Ground Control, based in Billericay, Essex, is seeking an Assistant Buyer to support the Landscape Design & Energy division. You’ll manage purchase orders, source materials, and coordinate deliveries to keep projects moving.

You’ll build strong supplier relationships, compare quotations, and work with contract managers to resolve issues. This role offers hybrid working with five days in the office initially, then a reduced presence.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, buying, supply chain, logistics or another busy environment.
• Organised and able to manage a busy workload while handling new requests.
• Confident communication with suppliers and internal teams over the phone.
• Proactive and self-sufficient approach, learn systems and take ownership.
• Good commercial awareness, able to compare prices and assess value.
• Strong attention to detail with purchase orders, deliveries and invoices.
• Practical, solutions-focused approach; investigate issues and determine next steps.
• Comfortable learning new systems; MS Office or ERP/purchasing systems experience is useful.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchase orders from start to finish, ensuring accuracy and progress to delivery.
• Source materials, equipment, plant, consumables and services from suitable suppliers.
• Build relationships with suppliers; check availability, chase deliveries and resolve issues.
• Work with contract managers and internal teams; update pricing, lead times and deliveries.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations to aid value-focused decisions.
• Handle delivery, invoice and purchase order queries with suppliers and internal teams.
• Respond to urgent requirements by adapting priorities and finding alternatives.
• Keep purchasing records accurate and accessible for the wider team.

Skills

Purchasing

Procurement

Buying

Supply chain

Logistics

Coordination

Commercial awareness

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP/purchasing systems

Dynamics

Job description

Assistant Buyer

Location: Billericay, Essex - Hybrid

Salary: Competitive

Contract Type: Full time, 12-month fixed term contract

Typical Hours: Monday-Friday, full time

Keep things moving and make a difference behind the scenes.

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

In this role, you'll support the purchasing activity across our Landscape Design & Energy division, helping teams get what they need while keeping orders, suppliers and deliveries moving smoothly.

• 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.

What We're Looking For

• 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.

Benefits

• 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

Equal Opportunities Statement

At Ground Control, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010.

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.

We expect all colleagues to uphold our values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discriminatory behaviour and are committed to continuous improvement through training, inclusive policies, and accountability at all levels. #CF