Buyer

Millbank Holdings; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Millbank Holdings in Abingdon, United Kingdom, seeks a proven Buyer to deliver procurement outcomes on civil engineering projects. You will plan, place and progress orders, manage supplier relationships and protect cost, quality and delivery on live projects.

The role offers ownership within a collaborative commercial environment, with opportunities to influence procurement strategy, supplier performance, and overall project outcomes across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Buyer in project-driven environments.
• Knowledge of procurement standards and risk management.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Obtaining best value from suppliers for materials and services.
• Planning, placing and progressing orders while monitoring cost, quality and delivery.
• Reporting on the placement and progress of orders against the procurement plan.
• Supporting development of procurement strategy and business planning.
• Developing and managing a supplier base aligned to project demands.
• Ensuring suppliers meet required approvals/standards with HSQE stakeholders.
• Maintaining commercial awareness of contract forms and live project progress.
• Prioritising safety and compliance on site and in-office activities.

Skills

Buyer experience

Supplier management

Procurement planning

Order placement

Cost control

Job description

Are you a proven Buyer with experience delivering procurement outcomes in civil engineering or a comparable project-led environment?

Can you confidently plan, place and progress orders, manage key supply chain relationships, and protect cost, quality and delivery on live projects.

This is a chance to step into a high-impact procurement role where you’ll influence project success, drive value, and help shape a stronger, more resilient supply chain — if you’re ready for a role with genuine ownership.

The Opportunity

Join a well-established, project-focused organisation with a strong delivery culture and clear guiding principles around integrity, accountability and continuous improvement. You’ll be part of a collaborative commercial/procurement environment where people are visible, accessible, and expected to take ownership — with the opportunity to contribute ideas, improve ways of working, and build strong stakeholder relationships across the wider business.

The Role

You’ll take responsibility for procuring materials and services to support project teams (and, where required, head office overhead spend). Working closely with commercial teams and suppliers, you’ll help ensure procurement activity is planned, controlled, and aligned to programme needs — balancing value, risk, compliance and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Obtaining best value from suppliers for materials, services and consumables
• Planning, placing and progressing orders while monitoring cost, quality and delivery performance
• Reporting on the placement and progress of orders against the project procurement plan
• Supporting the ongoing development of procurement strategy and business planning
• Developing and managing a capable supplier base aligned to current and future project demands
• Working with HSQE stakeholders to ensure suppliers meet required approvals/standards
• Maintaining commercial awareness of different forms of contract and engaging with live project progress (including site visits where required)
• Operating with a strong personal focus on safety and compliance, both in-office and when visiting sites

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience operating as a Buyer (or similar procurement role) within a project-driven environment (ideally construction/civil engineering or similar)
• Strong commitment to health, safety, quality and environmental compliance
• A proactive, accountable approach with the ability to deliver consistently and contribute to continuous improvement
• Working knowledge of recognised procurement standards and good practice (e.g., CIPS-aligned principles)
• Sound commercial awareness, including an understanding of differing contract forms and how procurement impacts project outcomes
• Strong supplier and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge and drive performance
• Strong capability in procurement planning, order placement and order progress tracking