Buyer

Bigblue; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional construction company in Oxford is seeking an experienced Buyer (Materials) to join their procurement team. Responsibilities include sourcing and negotiating materials for projects up to £30m. Candidates should possess strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills, along with a good knowledge of construction materials. This role offers a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and the chance to work on exciting projects.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Commitment to staff wellbeing

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a procurement/purchasing role within construction.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage supplier relationships.
• Good knowledge of supply-chain logistics and lead-times.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing and procuring materials and services for projects.
• Managing supplier relationships for reliability and quality.
• Conducting commercial negotiations and drafting contracts.

Skills

Procurement experience

Commercial acumen

Negotiation skills

Knowledge of construction materials

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Job description

Job Title: Buyer (Materials)

Location: Oxford (with flexible work-from-home arrangements)

Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 + comprehensive package

About

My client is a well-established, regionally-based construction business with a proud history of delivering high-quality design & build, new build, refurbishment and restoration projects right across southern England. With over 100 years of trading and a strong people-first culture.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Buyer (Materials) to join our procurement function. You will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating and procuring materials and services required for our projects (typically up to ~£30m), working closely with project teams across the Oxford region and beyond.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships, ensuring value for money, reliability and quality of supply.
• Managing material procurement for multiple projects simultaneously: forecasting, ordering, tracking delivery and liaising with logistics.
• Reviewing specifications and material requirements with Estimating, Design, Site Teams and Supply Chain.
• Conducting commercial negotiations, drafting contracts or purchase orders, monitoring supplier performance, and managing any issues such as delays, quality non-conformances or cost variances.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives in procurement: analysing spend, identifying opportunities for cost savings, promoting sustainability and social value in the supply chain.
• Providing data and reports on procurement metrics to senior management.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in a procurement / purchasing / buyer role within construction (materials) or a closely-related industry.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Good knowledge of construction materials, supply-chain logistics and lead-times.
• Excellent organisational skills, able to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong communication skills, able to work effectively with internal teams, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Comfortable working with procurement systems, data analysis and reporting.
• Self-motivated, proactive and aligned to a high-quality, team-oriented approach.
• Ability to work flexibly: based in Oxford region office but with the flexibility to work from home as agreed.

What they Offer

• Competitive salary (£50K–£60K) plus excellent benefits and package.
• Flexible working arrangements (including home-working) combined with the opportunity to work on exciting construction projects.
• A people-first culture, investment in development, and strong commitment to staff wellbeing and training.
• Oversight of a varied project portfolio in the Oxford/ Southern England region, giving broad exposure and opportunity for growth.

Please submit your CV or contact Angus on 07777 16233 or via email - [e-mail]