Procurement Assistant: Launch Your Buying Career with Training

Severn Trent Water; Coventry; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus scheme (up to £1,500)

Leading pension scheme

Sharesave

Support for your CIPS studies

Dedicated training and development

Electric vehicle scheme

Family friendly policies

Two paid volunteering days per year

Job summary

Severn Trent Water in Coventry is looking for an Assistant Buyer to join our award-winning Procurement & Contract Management team. You’ll support Category Managers to deliver tenders, new contracts and savings, handling smaller, lower-risk purchases (usually between £5k and £450k).

You’ll research suppliers, gather quotes, compare options and help decide who we buy from, working with colleagues across the business to create value and progress.

Qualifications

• The ability to manage internal and external stakeholders in order to build effective relationships
• An awareness of procurement governance, compliance and responsible sourcing, with the ability to follow clear processes, maintain accurate records and support fair, transparent purchasing decisions
• A customer-focused mindset, with the ability to balance cost, quality, risk and service outcomes when supporting buying decisions
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to work accurately with supplier information, quotations, documentation and contract records.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make sound recommendations
• A willingness to learn, develop and the confidence to ask questions, and influence people
• Knowledge of purchasing processes (e.g. tenders and contracts)
• Proficient IT skills, including the ability to develop and maintain spreadsheets
• Minimum A Level qualifications, or equal, including GCSE Maths and English

Responsibilities

• As an Assistant Buyer, you’ll support Category Managers to deliver tenders, new contracts and savings
• You’ll be responsible for smaller, lower‑risk purchases (usually between £5k and £450k)
• You’ll research suppliers, gather quotes, compare options, and help choose who we buy from
• You’ll also work closely with colleagues across the business to ensure we’re creating value and progress
• This is a development opportunity to kick-start your career in Procurement

Skills

Stakeholder management

Procurement governance

Customer-focused mindset

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Willingness to learn

Purchasing processes knowledge

Proficient IT skills

Education

Minimum A Level qualifications including GCSE Maths and English

Tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

Severn Trent Water in Coventry is looking for an Assistant Buyer to join our award-winning Procurement & Contract Management team. You’ll support Category Managers to deliver tenders, new contracts and savings, handling smaller, lower-risk purchases (usually between £5k and £450k).

You’ll research suppliers, gather quotes, compare options and help decide who we buy from, working with colleagues across the business to create value and progress.