Junior Buyer (12-month fixed term contract)

Claire McGonigle; Cork; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from procurement team

Career progression opportunities

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Ascension Executive Recruitment is partnering with a leading Irish construction contractor to appoint a Junior Buyer to join a growing procurement team. You will support multiple live projects, source materials, manage supplier invoices, and maintain purchasing records while liaising with site teams and finance stakeholders.

This role offers strong career development in construction procurement within a busy environment, with exposure to large-scale projects and a supportive mentorship framework.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction sector.
• Experience in purchasing, procurement, accounts payable or invoice processing.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Source construction materials, plant equipment and project services.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations.
• Raise and manage purchase orders.
• Track deliveries and long-lead procurement items.
• Support Project Managers and Site Managers with purchasing requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and procurement trackers.
• Process supplier invoices accurately and efficiently.
• Match invoices against purchase orders and delivery documentation.
• Investigate and resolve pricing, quantity and invoice discrepancies.
• Coordinate with suppliers, site teams and finance to clear outstanding invoice issues.
• Assist with month-end invoice reconciliation activities.
• Build strong working relationships with suppliers and merchants.
• Confirm delivery schedules and product availability.
• Coordinate returns, shortages, damaged goods and credit notes.
• Support supplier performance and service delivery.
• Ensure purchasing processes comply with company procedures.
• Maintain procurement and financial documentation.
• Support reporting, audits and general procurement administration.
• Ensure commercial information is handled accurately and confidentially.

Skills

Construction sector experience

Purchasing and procurement

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication & stakeholder management

MS Excel

MS Office

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Ascension Recruitment is delighted to partner with a leading Irish construction contractor in the appointment of a Junior Buyer to join their growing procurement team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with experience in construction purchasing, procurement, building materials, accounts payable, or construction administration who is looking to develop a long-term career within the construction industry.

Working closely with the Purchasing Manager and project delivery teams, you will play a key role in supporting live construction projects by coordinating material procurement, supplier relationships, purchase orders, and invoice processing activities.

The Opportunity

As Junior Buyer, you will support the procurement function across multiple construction projects, ensuring materials, plant and subcontract services are sourced efficiently and delivered on schedule.

You will also be responsible for managing supplier invoices, resolving invoice queries, and maintaining accurate purchasing records while liaising with site teams, suppliers, Quantity Surveyors, and finance stakeholders.

This position offers excellent exposure to construction procurement and provides strong career development opportunities within a busy and supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Buying Support

• Source construction materials, plant equipment and project services.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations.
• Raise and manage purchase orders.
• Track deliveries and long-lead procurement items.
• Support Project Managers and Site Managers with purchasing requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and procurement trackers.

Invoice Processing & Query Resolution

• Process supplier invoices accurately and efficiently.
• Match invoices against purchase orders and delivery documentation.
• Investigate and resolve pricing, quantity and invoice discrepancies.
• Coordinate with suppliers, site teams and finance to clear outstanding invoice issues.
• Assist with month-end invoice reconciliation activities.

Supplier Management

• Build strong working relationships with suppliers and merchants.
• Confirm delivery schedules and product availability.
• Coordinate returns, shortages, damaged goods and credit notes.
• Support supplier performance and service delivery.

Administration & Compliance

• Ensure purchasing processes comply with company procedures.
• Maintain procurement and financial documentation.
• Support reporting, audits and general procurement administration.
• Ensure commercial information is handled accurately and confidentially.

About You

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience within the construction sector.
• Experience in purchasing, procurement, buying, construction administration, accounts payable, or invoice processing.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Competent user of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.

Desirable Experience

• Experience purchasing construction materials or site equipment.
• Exposure to working with contractors, subcontractors or builders merchants.
• Experience managing purchase orders and supplier invoices.
• Understanding of construction project environments.

What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to join a well-established and growing construction business.
• Exposure to large-scale construction projects.
• Strong mentorship from an experienced procurement team.
• Excellent opportunity for career progression within procurement and supply chain.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.