Buyer
Construction Materials Buyer required for Groundworks & Civils subcontractor in Surrey.
Office-based in Surrey / SW London.
Pay up to £40k.
Role & Responsibilities:
Place and manage purchase orders so critical materials and plant hit site on the agreed dates, with zero avoidable programme slips caused by procurement.
Negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms that hold or improve budgeted cost on awarded packages, and report variance before it becomes a site problem.
Build a preferred supply base for recurring groundworks commodities and hire, with clear service levels and documented alternatives for single-point risks.
Reconcile orders, deliveries, and invoices so site teams receive what was specified and commercial teams can certify costs without chasing paperwork.
Flag long-lead and constrained items at tender and pre-start, and lock supply early enough that setting-out and construction are not waiting on materials.
Resolve shortages, damages, and non-conformance within agreed response times, keeping quality standards and the programme intact.
Maintain accurate live data on commitments, deliveries, and supplier performance so estimating and project leads can plan the next job with facts, not assumptions.
Working Environment:
You will sit with estimating, surveying, and site management in a hands-on SME that runs work from first enquiry through to completion. You report to the commercial lead, with day-to-day partnership from project managers and buyers’ admin support as workload requires. You will use the company’s existing purchasing, estimating, and accounts systems, a vetted subcontractor and supplier network, and authority to commit within agreed limits—escalating only where cost, specification, or risk sits outside those limits.
Qualifications:
Proven buying in construction, civil engineering, or a comparable project environment, including materials, plant hire, and specialist supply.
Track record of hitting delivery dates and negotiated savings that can be shown against a budget or bill of quantities.
Working knowledge of groundworks commodities, specifications, and lead times—aggregates, concrete, drainage, reinforcement, temporary works, and plant.
Confident use of purchase-order, delivery, and invoice controls, with clean records that stand up to commercial review.
Clear, direct communication with site teams and suppliers when plans change and priorities collide.
Right to work in the United Kingdom and willingness to visit sites and suppliers when a decision needs eyes on the ground
