Purchasing Assistant

Reed; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

33 days holiday

Friday 1pm finish

Development opportunities

Work across purchasing and commercial

Job summary

Reed in Birmingham is seeking a Purchasing Assistant to support procurement across the business, issuing purchase orders, obtaining supplier quotes and tracking deliveries. This hands-on role focuses on accuracy and timely processing within an engineering/manufacturing environment.

You will liaise with suppliers, manage data in ERP/MRP and collaborate with the commercial team. The role offers a baseline £30k salary, 33 days holiday, an annual bonus and a Friday 1pm finish, with real

Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing, procurement or similar administrative role.
• Strong numerical and data accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong Excel and Word skills.
• Able to use computer systems and databases efficiently.
• Team-oriented but capable of independent work.
• Experience in engineering/manufacturing environment is a plus.
• ERP/MRP experience is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and issue purchase orders in line with approved requisitions.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, considering price, quantity, lead times and landed costs.
• Liaise with suppliers to secure order acknowledgements and confirm delivery dates.
• Chase outstanding orders by email and phone, updating suppliers on overdue items.
• Identify alternative suppliers and cost-saving opportunities with appropriate approvals.
• Assist in resolving pricing, batch and invoice queries with suppliers and internal teams.
• Review weekly stock reports and raise purchase orders as needed.
• Support new product introductions and RFQs with the supply base.
• Assist with material control and reporting including weekly/month-end reports.
• Provide day-to-day administrative support to the commercial team with quotations.

Skills

Purchasing

Procurement

Material control

Administrative support

Excel

Word

ERP/MRP

Communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Purchasing Assistant (X3-1352986) Birmingham, England

Salary: GBP30000 - GBP30000 per annum

Purchasing Assistant

• Job Type: Full-time
• Location: Birmingham

We are looking for a Purchasing Assistant to provide administrative and commercial support across the business, with a stronger focus on procurement activity. The Purchasing Assistant will help ensure supplier orders, records and quotation documents are prepared accurately and in a timely manner. This is an excellent opportunity for a Purchasing Assistant with experience in purchasing, procurement, material control or a similar administrative role.

Day-to-day of the role

• Prepare and issue purchase orders in line with approved requisitions.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, taking into account price, quantity, lead times and commercial terms such as landed costs.
• Liaise with suppliers to secure order acknowledgements and confirm delivery dates.
• Chase outstanding orders by email and telephone, keeping suppliers informed where orders are overdue.
• Support the identification of alternative suppliers and cost‑saving opportunities, subject to technical and commercial approval.
• Assist in resolving pricing, batch and invoice queries with suppliers and internal teams.
• Review weekly stock reports and raise purchase orders where required.
• Support new product introductions and RFQs by submitting requests to the supply base.
• Assist with material control and reporting, including weekly and month‑end reports, planning reports and negative stock reports.
• Provide day‑to‑day administrative support to the commercial team, including preparing customer quotations for routine referrals and aftermarket items.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, material control or a similar administrative role.
• Confidence working with numerical information and strong attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with suppliers.
• Strong spreadsheet skills and confidence using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
• Ability to use computer systems and databases accurately and efficiently.
• Team‑oriented approach, while also being able to work independently when needed.
• Flexible, practical and organised, with the ability to manage a varied workload.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Experience within an engineering or manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
• Experience using an ERP or MRP system would be beneficial.
• Annual bonus
• 1pm finishes on a Friday
• 33 days holiday
• Great opportunities for development and progression
• Opportunity to work across both purchasing and commercial functions.
• Exposure to procurement, supplier management and material control processes.
• Supportive team environment with scope to build experience in a varied role.