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.