Buyer

Eric Wright; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced annual leave starting at 26+

Pension 6.5% employer contribution

BUPA optional scheme

Hybrid working

Job summary

Eric Wright Water Ltd is seeking an experienced Buyer to join the Divisional Procurement Team in the North West. The role manages procurement for the water division, collaborating with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive value and compliance in delivery of civil engineering materials and MEICA projects.

You will work within a hybrid setup, liaising with central and regional teams, while developing improvements and ensuring procurement policies are followed.

Qualifications

• Background in Civil Engineering materials with procurement experience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good IT skills including the Microsoft suite.
• M&E experience within the Water Contracting Industry.
• Knowledge of Utility Supply Chains.

Responsibilities

• Category management of allocated suppliers and provide advice and procurement support to other regions.
• Ensure Procurement Policies and Procedures are followed locally and communicate improvements.
• Establish and maintain effective supplier relationships to maximise profitability.
• Collaborate with Central Procurement Lead on procurement and improvement initiatives.
• Liaise with Site and Management Teams to determine material/plant requirements.
• Place material and plant purchase orders as required.
• Maintain Plant Reports and present Site Plant Commitments monthly.
• Escalate and close out supplier invoice queries.
• Support management and site teams with procurement solutions.

Skills

Category management

Procurement

Supplier relations

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Education

Civil Engineering background

Tools

Microsoft Office

Plant reports

Job description

The Eric Wright Group has a fantastic history. From our beginnings in construction to an award winning group of companies, our reputation is built on our Chairman's founding principles of a company that must be profitable, ethical and farsighted, as a result we have people, community and social value at our heart. Eric Wright Water Ltd is a multi-disciplinary engineering and construction company working in the water and wastewater industry. Our experienced project management and in-house operational teams work with our clients to provide a professional service. Our capabilities allow us to deliver solutions across the civil and MEICA spectrum. We operate framework contracts with a number of the key UK water companies. Our delivery model provides customer service and value to our clients.

Eric Wright Water aims to be the leader in our field, delivering excellence in engineering and construction within the water industry. We are committed to building long term working relationships with both our clients and suppliers and do this in the spirit of the ‘Eric Wright’ ethos of working in an honest, non-adversarial and collaborative manner. Our approach to project delivery is fully aligned to that of our clients in terms of Health and Safety and Environmental management; ‘If I cannot do it safely, I will not do it’. Our clients benefit from our ability to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ whereby we offer a comprehensive range of service covering project asset design, construction, installation, commissioning and handover, through to ongoing maintenance and management.

The Role

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Buyer to join our Divisional Procurement Team, Eric Wright Water Divisions, Suppliers and wider Business Associates. Our Buyer will work within our divisional procurement team here at Eric Wright Water and work with our suppliers and wider business associates. Reporting to the Central Procurement Lead, you will manage the procurement function in the North West and develop business improvement initiatives with the Central Procurement Lead.

The main duties and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Category management of allocated suppliers and providing advice and procurement support to other regions in respect of these categories.
• Liaise closely with the Central Procurement Lead and Regional/Framework Buyers to ensure Procurement Policies and Procedures are followed at local level, and that recommendations for improvement and innovation are communicated effectiv
• Establish and maintain effective supplier relationships to maximise business profitability and support the achievement of business objectives.
• Regular collaboration with Central Procurement Lead on identifying and supporting with procurement and business improvement initiatives.

• Liaison with Site and Management Teams to determine material/plant requirements.
• Placement of material and plant purchase orders as required.
• Maintenance and accurate utilisation of Plant Reports and monthly presentation of Site Plant Commitments to Contract/Project/Site Management.
• Manage Plant Posting activity to financial accounting timetables.
• Management of Goods Receipting Activity at local Divisional level in conjunction with the Purchasing Administrator/purchasing team.
• Closing out of supplier invoice queries.
• Actively support management and site teams and offer a personal and dedicated approach to procurement solutions.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have a background in Civil Engineering materials along with strong procurement experience. It goes without saying that you will have excellent communication skills and enjoy building relationships with internal and external suppliers and Stakeholders.

Ideally you will have;

• Excellent IT skills including the Microsoft suite
• M&E experience within the Water Contracting Industry
• Knowledge of Utility Supply Chains
• Commercial and financial awareness
• Excellent communication skills
• Time management skills
• Decision making and problem-solving ability

In return we offer ...

• Competitive Salary
• Enhanced annual leave starting at 26 Days + bank holidays rising with service
• Learning and development - we offer a range of learning opportunities to develop talent at all levels within our business focussing on technical competence, upskilling, compliance and governance and career development.
• Pension — 6.5% employer contribution of your salary into your pension to help you save for the future
• BUPA -optional scheme and can include your family to the scheme (50% contribution)
• Group Income Protection – 50% of your salary covered for 3 years for long term illness
• Enhanced Paid Family Leave - maternity, paternity, adoption, fertility, compassion, bereavement, crisis, emergency dependants, and much more
• Hybrid working- manage your own diary, working in the office, at home or out with clients
• Virtual GP - 24/7 access for when you need to speak to a GP
• EAP – Employee Assistance Programme through Health Assured, supporting you and your family with advice, guidance and counselling on a variety of areas such as health, fitness, home life, finances and much more.
• Mental Health support– through the Thrive app, approved by the NHS, provides tools, to tackle, prevent and manage common stressors such as sleep, bereavement, work issues etc. Also provides relaxation, breathing and meditation techniques and measures impact.
• Savings scheme –Put aside an affordable amount for a rainy day in the future
• Recognition awards – awards for long service and special birthdays
• A comprehensive health and wellbeing strategy focussed on physical, emotional, financial and career wellbeing
• A wide range of enhanced benefits to support your well-being and work-life balance

What we do

As an award-winning leader in the property and construction industry, the Eric Wright Group demonstrates a culture of excellence in civil engineering, construction, development, property and facilities management that ensures long-term relationships with our partners and clients. The companies across the Group regularly collaborate to deliver outstanding results on bespoke projects for both public and private sector clients.

Our ethos

Working at the Eric Wright Group of companies is truly special. Owned by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust, we are a commercially focused business with a social purpose, which means that after reinvestment in the business, our profit is donated to charity via the Trust. This ownership structure provides a high level of stability for the Group and supports longer-term commercial and charitable strategies.

We are extremely proud of our dedicated, passionate and friendly colleagues who live our values and work hard to make a difference in communities every day.

The Eric Wright Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its employees, contractors and clients and expects its people to share this commitment. Successful applicants may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check or Disclosure Scotland check and to provide proof of their right to work in the UK. We are committed to equal opportunities, inclusion and fairness across all employment opportunities and service delivery. All managers and employees are expected to promote our values to ensure our workplaces and services are inclusive and accessible.