Buying and Administrative Assistant

University of South Hampton; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Hybrid working

Job summary

The University of Southampton is seeking a Buying and Administrative Assistant in the Purchasing Team within the Finance department. You will provide straightforward advice to staff, students and suppliers on sourcing purchases and buying administration, handling end-to-end processes from ordering to goods receipting.

In this busy role you will be expected to communicate clearly, work with colleagues across campuses, and support flexible working arrangements including a hybrid model.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisation, communication and customer service skills.
• Experience of working in a large organisation and with financial systems would be useful, but training will be given.

Responsibilities

• Provide straightforward advice and support to University staff, students and suppliers for sourcing purchases and buying administration.
• Handle end-to-end purchasing process: ordering, goods receipting and order management; be the first point of contact for buying administration.
• Flexibly support Buying and Administrative activities as required.
• Act as a contract champion to support efficient and effective purchasing across categories.

Skills

Organisation

Communication

Customer service

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Finance department as a Buying and Administrative Assistant in the Purchasing Team, you will:

• Provide straight forward advice and support to University staff, students and suppliers, for sourcing purchases and buying administration. Providing a professional and courteous service to staff, students and suppliers via email, telephone and face-to-face enquiries, to ensure efficient and effective purchasing.
• Working within specific categories or areas, responsible for, ordering and Processing – responsible for the end-to-end process including ordering, goods receipting and management of the order and to provide advice and support to University staff, students and suppliers by being the first point of contact for buying administration.
• Flexibly support Buying and Buying Administrative activities as required.
• Act as a contract champion to support efficient and effective purchasing across categories.

About you

As a Buying and Administrative Assistant you will have excellent organisation, communication and customer service skills, be able to work well as part of a busy team and be confident posing questions to staff at all levels in a professional manner. The University is a diverse organisation and our purchasing reflects this; common sense and a sense of humour are essential.

Previous experience of working in a large organisation and with financial systems would be useful, but not essential as training will be given.

Working here

As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are pro‑active in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work.

We welcome applications from candidates who are committed to helping us create an inclusive work environment. Committed to supporting our staff and students, we are open to a flexible working approach. We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly and those who have taken a career break. We have adopted a hybrid working model across the university combining working from home with regular time on campus.

As well as additional benefits, such as a 36 hour working week, a generous holiday allowance starting at 20 days annual leave (increasing to 24 days after 4 years of service), plus a further 6 university closure days and 8 UK bank holidays. We’ll support your long-term future with access to a pension scheme, subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts. We are committed to supporting our staff and students, and are open to flexible working approaches; giving consideration to part time applications.

The University of Southampton’s mission is to change the world for the better. As a world‑leading, research‑intensive university, with a strong and high‑quality educational offering, it is renowned for its innovation and enterprise and sits within the top 1% of universities worldwide.

As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work. With a generous holiday allowance as well as additional university closure days we are committed to supporting our staff and students and open to a flexible working approach.

This role does not qualify for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship. To explore alternative UK visa options, see gov.uk .