Buyer

Barratt Developments plc; Watford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Bonus Scheme

Private Medical Cover - Single Cover

Annual Medical Health Assessment

26 days' holiday

Cycle to Work scheme

Pension — employer contributions

Job summary

Barratt Developments plc is seeking a detail-oriented procurement professional to manage cost-effective material purchasing across sites. You will prepare procurement duties, analyse costs, and liaise with suppliers and technical teams to ensure quality and budget adherence.

Reporting to the Senior Buyer, you will handle material cost schedules, accrue monthly site costs, and support valuation processes, while maintaining strong supplier relationships and internal collaboration.

Qualifications

• Qualified to NVQ Level 4 or higher.
• Must carry a valid CSCS card.
• Numerate with attention to detail, able to gather, interpret and present data to facilitate preparation of budgets.
• Methodical, conscientious and organised.
• Works to deliver high standards.
• Strong IT skills, including working knowledge of computer systems within the commercial environment.
• The ability to work on own initiative.
• Good communication skills, and the ability to build effective working relationships both internally and externally.
• Excellent telephone skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare all procurement duties and exercises.
• Schedule and place material and plant orders with Group National Suppliers where appropriate or general suppliers, optimising cost and quality.
• Attend internal pre-start meetings and Team Meetings as required.
• Check Architects/Engineers drawings for discrepancies and compliance with the required material specification. Thereafter resolving any queries with the relevant consultants/Technical department.
• Produce material cost schedules and budgets with cost codes for new sites and as required, and to review material cost codes to ensure budgets are not exceeded.
• Produce schedules for material enquiries, sending to suppliers for costing and assessing quotations and supplier's schedules to ensure they are correct, prior to placing the respective orders.
• Project and report material cost increases as they arise.
• Provide site material accruals on a monthly basis.
• Compile quarterly material valuations for presentation to the Surveyor to be incorporated in the respective valuation meetings.
• Resolve invoice queries with the Accounts department.
• Carry out material on site checks and produce reports as required.
• Attend site weekly to ensure there are no problems with supplies/materials.
• Raise office and Sales and Marketing orders.

Skills

Numerate

Attention to detail

IT skills

Communication skills

Initiative

Education

NVQ Level 4 or higher

Tools

CSCS card

Job description

The Commercial team deals with everything to do with cost-effective building, including quantity surveying, estimating, procurement and material buying.

With a watching brief on choice of material, cost, customer satisfaction and sales, and other critical issues, our Commercial team – which comprises Estimators, Quantity Surveyors and Material Buyers - has one objective: to deliver best quality homes, at the best possible cost. Their work is fundamental to our continued viability as a business and presents a fast-moving challenge that will exercise your creativity and commercial flair to the full.

Reporting to the Senior Buyer, you will manage an efficient materials purchasing process on up to two sites.

You will be expected to:

• Prepare all procurement duties and exercises
• Be aware of new materials to the market which would assist the business
• Schedule and place material and plant orders with Group National Suppliers where appropriate or general suppliers, optimising cost and quality.
• Attend internal pre-start meetings and Team Meetings as required
• Check Architects/Engineers drawings for discrepancies and compliance with the required material specification. Thereafter resolving any queries with the relevant consultants/Technical department.
• Ensure correct specifications are being used
• Produce material cost schedules and budgets with cost codes for new sites and as required, and to review material cost codes to ensure budgets are not exceeded
• Produce schedules for material enquiries, sending to suppliers for costing and assessing quotations and supplier's schedules to ensure they are correct, prior to placing the respective orders
• Project and report material cost increases as they arise
• Provide site material accruals on a monthly basis
• Compile quarterly material valuations for presentation to the Surveyor to be incorporated in the respective valuation meetings
• Resolve invoice queries with the Accounts department
• Carry out material on site checks and produce reports as required
• Attend site weekly to ensure there are no problems with supplies/materials
• Raise office and Sales and Marketing orders

To be successful in the role, we are looking for:

• Qualified to NVQ Level 4 or higher
• Must carry a valid CSCS card
• Numerate with attention to detail, able to gather, interpret and present data to facilitate preparation of budgets
• Methodical, conscientious and organised
• Works to deliver high standards
• Strong IT skills, including working knowledge of computer systems within the commercial environment
• The ability to work on own initiative
• Good communication skills, and the ability to build effective working relationships both internally and externally
• Professional and pleasant manner in dealing with internal and external customers
• Excellent telephone skills

We've been nationally recognised as a 5 star housebuilder since 2010 for supplying high-quality homes for all generations. That's more than any other major housebuilder. It's because we combine the brightest minds, the latest technology, and a genuine commitment to putting customers first. We want the best people in the industry to help us shape the future of building. We have tailored opportunities for apprentices, graduates, experienced professionals and ex-Armed Forces personnel to come and help us stay one step ahead, and build the homes that Britain needs.

Barratt adopts a hybrid way of working which assumes that where roles allow, our office-based colleagues divide their time between working in the office, on our construction sites and sales offices, and working from home, as the role dictates. We recognise the many benefits that an effective hybrid working culture brings to both the Company and our colleagues.

We are building an organisation where anyone with drive and talent can pursue the career they want. We are building a culture where anyone, regardless of gender, race, age, sexuality, disability, background or any other characteristic, can progress and be proud to work for us.

As part of working for Barratt Redrow PLC and specifically for this role we offer:

• Competitive Bonus Scheme
• Private Medical Cover - Single Cover
• Annual Medical Health Assessment
• 26 days' holiday (increase by 1 day for every 3 years' continuous service up to 29 days)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Reduced hotel rate
• Discounts at major retailers
• Private medical cover — Private healthcare support is available for timely access to a virtual GP, for diagnosis, treatment and more — including physio and talking therapies. You can even add family members.
• Pension — First-class pension schemes with the option of up to 10% employer contributions.
• Annual Health Assessment — All colleagues are able to access a fully funded annual health assessment, helping you to proactively manage your health and wellbeing.
• From death in service, paid volunteer and study leave, enhanced family friendly policies (including our Parents and Carers leave) to a share buying scheme, we have an incredible range of additional benefits.

Today's housebuilding professional need tomorrow's benefits, so they're ready for whatever the future brings. When you join Barratt, you get the kind of support you would expect from a business built for a modern working world.

Private medical cover

• Private healthcare support is available for timely access to a virtual GP, for diagnosis, treatment and more — including physio and talking therapies. You can even add family members.

Pension

• First-class pension schemes with the option of up to 10% employer contributions.

Annual Health Assessment

• All colleagues are able to access a fully funded annual health assessment, helping you to proactively manage your health and wellbeing.

So much more

• From death in service, paid volunteer and study leave, enhanced family friendly policies (including our Parents and Carers leave) to a share buying scheme, we have an incredible range of additional benefits.

About North Thames

Our dual-branded Barratt Redrow divisions combine the best of our Barratt Homes and Redrow brands.

Whether it is homes focused on first time buyers, or those aimed towards customers taking the next step in their homeownership journey, we provide award winning quality and innovative design.

That's why we've been awarded the maximum 5 Stars from the Home Builders Federation since 2009, making us the only major national housebuilder to achieve this.

Where you'll be
working

Here is where you'll be based, whether that's an office or one of our sites.

Putting diversity and inclusion front and centre

We know that a diverse team is better for our customers, makes us a more attractive employer and results in a stronger, more sustainable business. Which is why we're so committed to developing our inclusive culture.

Thinking ahead to leave a better world behind

We're building a sustainable tomorrow, one house and one community at a time. Our commitment to our customers is rooted in every decision and day-to-day action we take.

See how our colleagues are building tomorrow together.