Junior Buyer

1st Executive; Crawley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

1st Executive is seeking a Junior Buyer to own day-to-day purchasing activities in Crawley, supporting production planning and BOMs. You’ll place and manage orders, liaise with suppliers on deliveries, and help maintain supplier data.

The role focuses on operational buying, supplier communications, and logistics, ensuring timely production materials while collaborating with the Buyer & Planner on cost-minded improvements.

Qualifications

• Experienced in placing and managing purchase orders with suppliers.
• Familiar with ERP/MRP systems and Excel data handling.
• Demonstrates strong supplier communication and workload management.

Responsibilities

• Raise and manage purchase orders in Unleashed against the purchasing plan and BOMs set by the Buyer & Planner.
• Manage order confirmations, amendments, lead times and delivery scheduling to meet production needs.
• Maintain accurate supplier prices and data in Unleashed, applying approved changes.
• Monitor open orders and flag supply shortfalls and risks early.
• Support the Buyer & Planner's negotiation and cost-reduction work — obtaining quotes and comparing pricing.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Excel data skills

ERP/MRP system

Supplier communication

Tools

Unleashed

Job description

An exciting opportunity to join a growing business as their Junior Buyer to take day-to-day responsibility for placing and managing purchase orders and routine supplier relationships, freeing the Buyer & Planner to focus on production planning, Bills of Materials and strategic price negotiation. Working to the purchasing plan and BOMs set by the Buyer & Planner, the role owns the day-to-day buying cycle and is the operational point of contact for suppliers. A smaller part of the role covers practical purchasing logistics.

Purchase Order & Supply Management (core)

• Raise and manage purchase orders in Unleashed against the purchasing plan and BOMs set by the Buyer & Planner.
• Manage order confirmations, amendments, lead times and delivery scheduling to meet production needs.
• Maintain accurate supplier prices and data in Unleashed, applying agreed changes once approved by the Buyer & Planner.
• Monitor open orders and anticipate, flag and help resolve supply shortfalls and risks early.
• Support the Buyer & Planner's negotiation and cost-reduction work - obtaining quotes, comparing pricing and preparing data.

Supplier Relationship Management (core)

• Act as the day-to-day contact for suppliers on orders, deliveries, pricing and service, building effective working relationships.
• Resolve faulty goods, shortages, returns, credits and service issues with suppliers.
• Set up new suppliers (procurement side) and keep supplier records accurate and current.

Essential

• Demonstrable purchasing / buying experience - placing and managing purchase orders and dealing with suppliers - able to operate competently with minimal training.
• Working competence with an ERP / MRP or stock-control system and good Excel / data skills.
• Confident supplier communicator; well organised; able to prioritise and manage own workload.