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Assistant Buyer

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Colas Rail UK

21d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Junior Level
  • Logistics
  • Birmingham

AI generated summary

  • You need procurement experience, commercial awareness, negotiating skills, and a good phone manner. Must have 2 years of buying experience, relevant qualifications, and knowledge of railway terms.
  • You will manage purchasing activities, negotiate with suppliers, analyze costs, ensure compliance, assist budget holders with savings, and streamline procurement processes while handling documentation.

Requirements

  • Experience of Procurement processes
  • Commercial awareness
  • Negotiating skills
  • Customer awareness
  • Presentation and meeting skills
  • Supply Chain management
  • Computer literacy-MS Office, Mentor, Access, Excel, Databases
  • Previous buying experience (minimum 2 years)
  • Literacy and numeracy
  • Knowledge of railway terminology and procedures
  • Good telephone manner
  • Excellent written communication
  • 4 GCSE’s inc. Maths and English
  • Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environmental requirements
  • PTS (desirable)
  • MCIPS qualified (or desirable)
  • Required to attend Competition Compliance training course.

Responsibilities

  • Identifying allocated purchasing activities to achieve best value for money:
  • Applying the five rights of purchasing and value for money criteria to any purchase of goods and services
  • Evaluating the purchases of goods and services on the basis of the total costs of ownership (or whole life costs)
  • Negotiating with suppliers and customers to agree contract terms and relationships that will achieve the interests of the organisation
  • Creating savings and improve efficiencies through negotiations with suppliers
  • Assisting budget holders to capture savings that contribute to reductions in budgets
  • Assisting the Procurement Manager and Buyers to deliver against the annual savings plan by identifying, achieving and recording cost savings:
  • Comparing and evaluating quotations received from potential suppliers and dealing with any queries or concerns about completed documentation
  • Compiling timely and accurate invitations to tender taking into account the requirements of stakeholders
  • Promoting the use of competitive pricing with suppliers through monitoring prices and obtaining quotations when appropriate
  • Comparing historical prices with newly quoted prices and evaluating the reasons for any significant discrepancies and take appropriate action to secure competitive pricing
  • Analysing available data on the costs, prices, margins and mark ups of submitted process in order to negotiate competitive prices
  • Negotiating with suppliers to reduce prices whilst retaining or improving other aspects of value for money
  • Working with the Procurement Manager and Buyers to assist with improvements and streamlining of processes to reduce costs:
  • Ensuring that procedures are complied with by internal stakeholders and suppliers
  • Ensuring that internal stakeholders obtain approvals for the commitments to requisitions, orders and invoices
  • Ensuring that requisitions, orders, invoices and other documentation relating to procurement and supply are clear and correct
  • Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested
  • As you will expect the organisation may change from time to time and you will be expected to meet the operational requirements.
  • Any other reasonable duties as required from time to time.

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of the Assistant Buyer role at Colas Rail?

The primary purpose of the Assistant Buyer role is to assist delivery teams with professional materials, plant, and service supply to achieve best value for money.

What qualifications are necessary for this position?

Candidates are required to have 4 GCSEs including Maths and English, and previous buying experience of at least 2 years. Being MCIPS qualified is desirable.

Is there any specific training required for the Assistant Buyer role?

Yes, the job holder is required to attend a Competition Compliance training course.

How many years of procurement experience are needed for this role?

A minimum of 2 years of previous buying experience is required for this position.

What skills are essential for the Assistant Buyer role?

Essential skills include procurement processes, commercial awareness, negotiating skills, customer awareness, supply chain management, and proficiency in MS Office and databases.

Are there opportunities for career development in this role?

Yes, Colas Rail encourages continuous development and supports its employees to grow in their careers.

What are the working hours for the Assistant Buyer position?

Specific working hours are not mentioned, but candidates can expect to meet operational requirements as the organization may change from time to time.

Does Colas Rail offer any health and wellness benefits?

Yes, Colas Rail offers a Healthcare Cash Plan and a Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme as part of their benefits.

Is there a commitment to diversity and inclusion at Colas Rail?

Yes, Colas Rail values and encourages diversity in their workforce and is committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination.

What are some of the key responsibilities of the Assistant Buyer?

Key responsibilities include negotiating with suppliers, evaluating quotations, compiling invitations to tender, and assisting in achieving cost savings.

Is a good telephone manner important for this role?

Yes, having a good telephone manner is one of the specified skills required for the Assistant Buyer position.

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Colas Rail UK

Manufacturing & Electronics
Industry
1001-5000
Employees

Mission & Purpose

Colas Rail UK is a leading railway infrastructure company that specializes in providing a wide range of services to the rail industry. Their core activities include track construction, maintenance, and renewal, as well as electrification and signalling projects. Their ultimate mission is to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient railway systems that meet the needs of their customers and contribute to the overall improvement of the UK's rail network. Their purpose is to enhance the capacity, performance, and sustainability of railways, ensuring the smooth and seamless movement of passengers and freight, while also prioritising safety and environmental responsibility. Through their expertise and innovation, Colas Rail UK plays a crucial role in supporting the growth and development of the UK's rail infrastructure.

Culture & Values

  • Care

    Caring is a fundamental value of our corporate culture. Whether it is self-care, care for employees, care for our customers and partners or care for the environment and society – from the very essence of our activity – we are driven by the same duty of exemplary and benevolence. Therefore, acting ethically and preserving the safety of those who accompany us will always remain our priority.

  • Share

    We are convinced that the pooling of talents and resources in all their diversity, teamwork and cross-disciplinary bridges are a source of progress and new ideas.

  • Dare

    We dare to take on responsibilities with a committed international leader who gives everyone a chance, we are one of the international leaders in our industry. That’s true. But what really matters is why we will keep on being a leader, we are a strong and structured company. We keep on innovating in our businesses and dare to conquer new territories and market segments, we trust everyone dares, regardless of where they come from, by quickly allowing them to take on responsibilities on large-scale projects.