Buyer

First Military Recruitment; Colchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Buyer in Colchester. The successful candidate will manage supplier relationships and negotiate terms for maintenance, repair, and operations spare parts. Responsibilities include placing purchase orders and ensuring timely deliveries. A proactive attitude and purchasing experience are essential. The role offers various benefits, including a bonus scheme and private healthcare after one year.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Workplace pension with employer contribution

Private healthcare after one year of service

Internal training and development

Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, or logistics is preferred.
• Strong organisational skills with a detail-oriented approach.
• Confident communicator with excellent telephone and written skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Willingness to learn about international trade and the MRO industry.
• Own transport is essential due to the office location.

Responsibilities

• Research and engage with potential new vendors.
• Negotiate prices and terms of business with vendors.
• Place and manage purchase orders.
• Monitor order progress to meet customer delivery timelines.
• Manage supplier relationships and customer communications.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Proactive attitude

Technical knowledge

Foreign language skills

Job description

Overview

First Military Recruitment are seeking an experienced Buyer on behalf of our client, a well-established international supplier of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) spare parts to heavy industrial sectors across the globe.

The company has been delivering high-quality MRO components sourced from European and North American manufacturers to clients in regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australasia, and South America for over four decades.

This role includes managing supplier relationships, negotiating terms, handling purchase orders, and supporting the supply chain process from vendor selection to delivery.

Candidates from an ex-military background are encouraged to apply, but all qualified candidates will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and engage with potential new vendors.
• Obtain and evaluate pricing from multiple suppliers.
• Negotiate prices and terms of business with vendors.
• Prepare customer quotations.
• Place and manage purchase orders.
• Monitor order progress to meet customer delivery timelines.
• Coordinate with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure timely, high-quality deliveries.
• Manage supplier relationships (SRM) and customer communications (CRM).
• Provide general customer service support as required.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, or logistics is preferred.
• Strong organisational skills with a detail-oriented approach.
• Confident communicator with excellent telephone and written skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Willingness to learn about international trade and the MRO industry.
• Technical knowledge or foreign language skills (e.g., German, Italian, or Arabic) are beneficial but not essential.
• Own transport is essential due to the office location.

Benefits

• Bonus scheme (typically outlined after the first year)
• Working hours : Monday to Friday, 08 : 30–13 : 00 and 14 : 00–17 : 00 (37.5 hours / week)
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
• Workplace pension with employer contribution
• Private healthcare after one year of service
• Internal training and development
• Relevant external training opportunities