Assistant Buyer

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises.

That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

Are you looking to build your career in procurement within a dynamic and supportive team? We're looking for an  Assistant Buyer  to join our  Regional Commercial team  and play a key role in delivering efficient, cost-effective procurement solutions across our developments.

Where will you be working?

This will be a hybrid role where your working week will be split between our offices in London (WC1X), sites across the Southeast Region, and home. This could vary each week dependent on your diary

What You'll Be Doing

As an Assistant Buyer, you'll support senior buyers and the wider commercial team by:

• Placing orders for bulk materials and managing site requisitions
• Liaising with suppliers to ensure best value and timely delivery
• Assisting in setting and monitoring material budgets
• Supporting the production of KPI reports (e.g., site damage, plant use, waste)
• Helping customer care with materials and plant orders when needed

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in procurement while contributing to the success of our development projects.

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• A full UK drivers license and access to own vehicle
• Experience within construction/Main Contractor. 
• A qualification in administration or business (or willingness to work towards one)
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Analytical and numerically astute with problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines
• Commercial and financial awareness

Preferred:

• Ability to work well under pressure
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.    

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:    

• Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Excellent holiday package – 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to buy or sell leave
• Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
• A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 5%
• Training and development
• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.

What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then apply following our simple 5 minute application process, upload a CV and a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the role. If you have any questions please email the recruitment team [email protected]

If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on [email protected].

Please note that we may bring the closing date forward, if we receive a large number of quality applications. If you are interested in this role we would advise applying immediately to avoid disappointment.

If you are using a mobile device such as an iPad then ensure your CV is stored in the cloud, we currently support Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox.

If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities.