Supply Chain Job - Assistant Buyer - Engineering/Manufacturing - London

First People Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A global raw materials trader is seeking an Assistant Buyer for their engineering department. Based in Central London, this hybrid role involves procurement and sourcing spare parts for manufacturing industries. Candidates should have experience in engineering buying, strong numerical skills, and familiarity with SAP Business One. The position offers career progression in a dynamic international environment with a focus on procurement practices.

Qualifications

• Buying experience in engineering or manufacturing.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of procurement principles.
• Demonstrated experience with ERP systems is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Requests for Quotation (RFQs) accurately and efficiently.
• Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors.
• Raise and process purchase orders.

Skills

Procurement

Manufacturing

SAP

Order Processing

Engineering

Fluency in English

Understanding engineering drawings

Strong numerical skills

Proficient in MS Office

Tools

SAP Business One

Job description

YourNewJobTitle: AssistantBuyer-Engineering/Manufacturing

TheSkillsYou'llNeed: Procurement, Manufacturing, SAP, Order Processing, Engineering

YourNewSalary: £30-33k

Location: Central London, hybrid four days in office, one at home (Five days in the office during probation)

Jobstatus: Permanent

Startdate: ASAP

Workinghours: Monday to Friday 9-5pm

WhoYou'llBeWorkingfor: Global raw materials trader.

AssistantBuyer-WhatYou'llbeDoingEachDay:

The Assistant Buyer role sits within the Engineering Department of a diversified international group operating across more than seven countries worldwide. Based at the London office, the role forms part of an international engineering procurement team responsible for sourcing spare parts and assemblies for manufacturing industries, primarily serving the Middle East market.

The role offers exposure to sourcing products from Europe and the Far East, providing valuable insight into international supply chains and global procurement practices. There is clear scope for career progression within the department.

• Understanding internal stakeholder requirements and preparing Requests for Quotation (RFQs) accurately and efficiently
• Receiving, analysing, comparing, and evaluating supplier quotations
• Prepare cost comparison sheets and calculate margins.
• Preparing customer and internal offers using the company’s bespoke SAP system
• Negotiating pricing, lead times, and commercial terms with vendors
• Raising and processing purchase orders
• Preparing procurement and management reports
• Selection and development of vendors to best meet the specifications, quality and logistical requirements.
• Ensuring accurate and timely data entry within the in‑house SAP system
• Typing, proofreading and production of correspondence and documents using in‑house style compliant templates
• Monitoring and responding to telephone and email enquiries on behalf of the engineering team
• Updating product brochures, catalogues and marketing materials as required
• Database management

AssistantBuyer-TheSkillsYou'llNeedtoSucceed:

• Buying experience in engineering or manufacturing.
• Understanding engineering drawings.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of procurement principles
• Familiarity with INCO terms & Forex/Exchange rates as this is an international trading environment.
• Ability to evaluate suppliers and negotiate favourable terms of business.
• Hands‑on ability to manage and enter enquiries, quotations and contracts on computer systems.
• Strong numerical skills and high level of computer literacy
• Good communication skills both verbal and written
• Demonstrated experience with ERP systems is highly desirable, particularly SAP Business One
• Language skills Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of European languages would be an added advantage.
• High attention to detail, with a methodical and organised approach to work
• A proactive, flexible, and “can‑do” attitude
• Have a flexible approach to working hours when necessary
• Have the ability to prioritise work effectively
• Be confident user of MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Have ability and enthusiasm for learning new systems and IT packages. Training will be given on SAP Business One

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We would be grateful if you could send your CV as a Word document. If your application is successful, you will be contacted within 7 days. We regret that due to the high volume of applications we cannot provide feedback on individual CVs. Please note that we can only consider candidates who are eligible to work in the UK and are able to provide relevant supporting documentation.

People First is committed to increasing diversity, and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, year of birth, relationship status or whether or not they have a disability.

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