Procurement Assistant

Taryn Hall Recruitment; Houghton-le-Spring; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Taryn Hall Recruitment is recruiting for a Procurement Assistant in Sunderland to support procurement and sourcing activities across goods, services, works and technology.

Ideal for school leavers or graduates seeking hands-on experience and progression, with training towards a procurement qualification. You will join a collaborative, employee‑owned business that values ideas and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• GCSEs in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confidence communicating with people at different levels.
• A good understanding of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook and Teams.
• The ability to prioritise tasks and manage your time effectively.
• Good numerical and analytical skills.
• A proactive, positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
• The ability to work independently while contributing to a wider team.

Responsibilities

• Support the procurement team with day-to-day sourcing and purchasing activities.
• Help clients identify suitable suppliers and service providers.
• Assist with procurement processes, from initial requirements through to supplier selection.
• Communicate with clients and suppliers, responding to queries and providing updates.
• Support the onboarding of new suppliers and maintaining accurate supplier information.
• Carry out basic research, data analysis and reporting.
• Prepare and maintain procurement documentation and records.
• Monitor shared inboxes and respond to enquiries.
• Support the team with meetings, administration and project coordination.
• Work with colleagues to identify opportunities to improve processes and service delivery.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Time management

Teamwork

Proactive attitude

Independent work

Education

GCSEs in Maths and English

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Teams

Job description

We're recruiting for a Procurement Assistant to join an established and expanding procurement team based in Sunderland.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone at the beginning of their career who wants to gain hands‑on experience, develop new skills and work towards a professional procurement qualification.

You'll be joining a supportive, collaborative and employee‑owned business where your contribution is valued, your ideas are welcomed and there are genuine opportunities to progress.

Whether you're a school or college leaver, a recent graduate or someone looking to move into procurement from another industry, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

Working alongside experienced procurement professionals, you'll support a variety of procurement and sourcing activities across goods, services, works and technology.

You'll gain exposure to the full procurement process, working with clients, suppliers and internal teams to ensure requirements are delivered efficiently and professionally.

This is a varied role where no two days will be the same, offering plenty of opportunities to learn, take responsibility and develop your commercial understanding.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the procurement team with day‑to‑day sourcing and purchasing activities.

• Helping clients identify suitable suppliers and service providers.

• Assisting with procurement processes, from initial requirements through to supplier selection.

• Communicating with clients and suppliers, responding to queries and providing updates.

• Supporting the onboarding of new suppliers and maintaining accurate supplier information.

• Carrying out basic research, data analysis and reporting.

• Preparing and maintaining procurement documentation and records.

• Monitoring shared inboxes and responding to enquiries.

• Supporting the team with meetings, administration and project coordination.

• Working with colleagues to identify opportunities to improve processes and service delivery.

About You

We're not necessarily looking for someone with previous procurement experience. What's more important is your attitude, willingness to learn and ability to communicate confidently with others.

You'll be someone who enjoys being busy, takes pride in doing a good job and is happy to take responsibility for your own workload.

Ideally, you'll have:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Good organisational skills and excellent attention to detail.

• Confidence communicating with people at different levels.

• A good understanding of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook and Teams.

• The ability to prioritise tasks and manage your time effectively.

• Good numerical and analytical skills.

• A proactive, positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

• The ability to work independently while contributing to a wider team.

Previous office, administration, customer service or purchasing experience would be an advantage, but is not essential.