Senior Buyer

Vistry Group; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Company car

Leave + holidays

Volunteer days

Private medical insurance

Maternity/paternity leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Share schemes

Christmas shutdown

Rewards portal

Job summary

Vistry Group in Basingstoke is seeking a Senior Buyer to manage cost control, forecasting and material procurement for construction projects in the region. You will lead a small team, collaborate with site teams and ensure on-time material supply and value.

The role requires experience with contractors or residential house developers, strong IT skills, and a solid grasp of budgets and supplier negotiations.

Qualifications

• Proven length of experience working for a contractor or residential house developer in a buying role.
• Strong mathematical and IT ability; good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost control, forecasting and material procurement for regional sites.
• Lead the pre-start meetings and support procurement decisions for projects.
• Negotiate with suppliers and monitor budget adherence across sites.

Skills

Buying experience

IT & MS Office

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Education

Construction-related degree

Tools

COINS

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Buyer to join our team within Vistry Southern, at our Basingstoke office. As our Senior Buyer, you will provide a full range of cost control, forecasting and financial reporting duties on all aspects of materials supply and plant for construction work within your region. Working closely with the wider Commercial team, you will be responsible for the performance of the sites within your control.We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we’re also committed to supporting flexible working where possible. We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated. Let’s cut to the chase, what’s in it for you...

• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
• Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
• Up to 39 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 2 Volunteering days per annum
• Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
• Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
• Share save and share incentive schemes
• Christmas company shutdown
• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits...

In return, what we would like from you...

• Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality
• 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A – C, including English and Mathematics
• Proven length of experience working for a contractor or residential house developer in a buying role.
• A good understanding of building regulations and legal obligations
• A good knowledge of construction methods and materials
• Strong mathematical and IT ability. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.
• Ability to assess and analyse information
• Good commercial sense
• Good understanding of budget management
• Negotiating and networking skills
• Excellent communications skills
• Able to work under pressure, and accept criticism of work
• Good team working skills
• Accurate with an eye for detail
• Willingness to go above and beyond to meet deadlines as and when the business requires it.

Desirable...

• Degree in Construction or similar, or,
• HNC / ONC in Construction or similar
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, or working towards full membership
• Working towards being a chartered member of the Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)
• Experience of COINS

More about the Senior Buyer role...

• Manage, coach and develop the Assistant Buyer to create a high-performing and efficient team, working closely with key stakeholders within the business
• Lead the pre-start meetings, including the presentation of relevant Health & Safety documentation
• Support the wider Commercial and Buying team with new products and innovation by investigating new solutions and innovations within the industry
• Deputise for the Buying / Procurement Manager where necessary and assist with the production of sales specifications for each project
• Agree the price specification with manufacturers of key suppliers, preparing the CPC1 (Material Costs) including providing material schedules from working drawings
• Input material schedules onto the relevant system and produce material budgets for the Surveying team
• Place material orders and procure additional materials not covered by schedules and place supplementary orders, analysing any variations
• Place plant orders by liaising with the Construction Director for compound layout and site set-up
• Produce cost reports and provide analysis of material costs for completion, actioning material and plant invoices
• Ensure all materials are delivered to sites in line with current build programmes, specification and are purchased at competitive prices inline with the companies group & regional deals where applicable.
• Ensure the procurement of all sites/buying phases are continually monitored against budget.
• Maintain an up to date library of standard house type material schedules.
• Produce accurate site specific material schedules and process material orders.
• Monitor material order values against budget values and address large variations with the Regional Regional Buying Manager.
• Ensure the tender process is adhered to for all new sites/phases in line with the regions tendering/procurement policy.
• Negotiate regional bulk price agreements and ensure competitive quotations are obtained for materials not covered by bulk agreements.
• Continually monitor price agreements to ensure they always remain competitive.
• Continually monitor supplier performance and hold regular meetings with main suppliers.
• Place orders for key showhome materials before pre-start meetings if required to meet showhouse programme dates.
• Process site purchase orders for replacement materials and produce monthly reports detailing expenditure.
• Continually research new products.
• Ensure the invoice checking procedure is being carried out and where necessary negotiate credits.
• Monitor the goods received sheets and liaise with build and site managers to ensure correct completion procedures are maintained.
• Complete stock valuation exercised as required during the year.
• Continually monitor material lead times, keeping build and site managers informed, instigate forward material allocation when necessary.
• Manage site call-offs and carry out regular stock takes to ensure site stocks remain cost effective.
• Maintain general specification for the regions housing range and ensure compliance with divisional general specification.
• Manage all amendments to specification as and when required.
• Monitor plant levels and ensure it is off lined when no longer needed.
• Ensure some labour and all material sub-contractors are procured within the agreed programme and to within budgetary levels.
• Ensure the efficient running of the computerised sub-contract purchasing system.
• Maintain a library of standard house type sub-contract schedules.
• Manage estimating functions for production of accurate estimated costs for housing, roads and sewers.
• Produce site specific material schedules.
• Ensure the material database is kept up to date.
• Ensure material tender lists are prepared in conjunction with the build department, and to the approval of the Regional Buying Manager / Commercial Manager/
• Ensure tenders are checked and comply with site specification and current trade specifications, and the tender drawings for the site include the Bovis Homes standard details.
• Produce reports comparing tender prices obtained, and an analysis of how they compare to the viability.
• Report to the Regional Buying Manager / Commercial Manager on the tender enquiry status and seek authorisation to place sub-contract orders.
• Ensure all material orders are processed correctly and efficiently.
• Ensure copies of approved material tenders lists, authorised tender enquiry summaries and cost valuation reports are kept on record.
• Continually monitor sub-contractor performance by liaising with build and surveying personnel
• Ensure company procedures are followed with regard to the termination of any material suppliers and seek to replace with an alternative material supplier within budgetary levels.

We build more than homes, we’re making Vistry. Being a responsible developer and award-winning employer means we live each day through our ethos - doing the right thing. Our behaviours reflect this, as well as our values of integrity, caring and quality. Shaping all we do; they empower us to develop sustainable communities across affordable and private housing. We work in a partnership-led way, and you’ll recognise our renowned brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes. Together with Vistry Works, our manufacturing operation, and the functional support of Vistry Services, we’re a proud UK Green Building Council member, UK top five housebuilder with a five-star House Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction rating, and winner of many awards including Top Employer, Global Top Inspiring Workplaces, and Best for Talent Attraction and Outreach. Join us in making Vistry.