Buyer

Reporting to: Finance Manager

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Newhaven Offices

Start date: 19th May 2025

Our vision:
We’re Boutique Modern, a modular housing provider based in Newhaven, East Sussex. We deliver affordable, high-quality homes for Local Authorities and Housing Associations, focusing on sustainable, cost-effective designs that create happy communities and beautiful places to live. Our approach is all about maximising social value and building community wealth.

As the UK’s only certified B Corporation in the modular construction industry, we’re proud to meet the highest global standards for environmental, social, and governance performance. This certification reflects our commitment to responsible practices across every aspect of what we do, from design and manufacturing to energy use, waste management, and beyond.

The role:
Reporting to the Finance Manager, this role is responsible for the purchasing of a wide variety of goods and services for the manufacturing elements of the business. In this role, successful candidates must be commercially driven and highly motivated at securing the best prices and ensuring that required goods are delivered in line with project and design timescales.

The role will work closely with a large group of varying internal stakeholders to ascertain exactly what is needed and subsequently work with current or in some cases, seek new, reliable & trustworthy suppliers and manage all relationships with suppliers and account managers.

Key responsibilities:

1. Managing the process for purchasing goods, materials, components, or services in line with specified budget, quality and delivery targets as required on live projects.
2. Negotiating material supply contracts and subcontracts, improving prices and terms of business with suppliers and reviewing opportunities to make business savings utilizing negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods.
3. Managing an Approved Suppliers Register - Developing deep and enduring supply chain to consistently deliver a high level of service, resilience and best value.
4. Assessing and managing procurement risks, including but not limited to price fluctuations, supplier capacity and other external factors to avoid margin erosion.
5. Coordinating with the Goods In team, Design, Management and other relevant teams as necessary - Managing stock including levels and quality, escalating discrepancies to suppliers and management.
6. Developing and implementing buying strategy to maximise efficiency and effective buying over time.
7. Researching, selecting and purchasing quality products and materials.
8. Preparing reports on purchasing margin and strategy effectiveness as and when required.
9. Arranging transport of goods and tracking orders to ensure timely delivery.
10. Understanding the target market and analysing trends in order to make informed buying decisions.
11. Reacting effectively & efficiently to market and industry trends, challenges and changes.
12. Adhering to any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of self, staff and visitors.

1. Buying experience within manufacturing or construction.
2. Commercial awareness & commercially driven.
3. Interpersonal skills, particularly in negotiating.
4. Ability to cope with pressure and adapt to situations.
5. Detail-oriented, ability to understand and cross-reference supplier information against drawings and technical specifications.
6. Good organisational skills.
7. Ability to manage relationships internally and externally with all relevant stakeholders.
8. Strong communication skills.
9. Previous experience of acting within a standalone buying position.