Senior Buyer

We have a great opportunity for a Senior Buyer to join our team within Vistry Thames Valley, at our Reading office. As our Senior Buyer, you will ensure the efficient running of the material purchasing function and liaise with other departments to ensure financial control of all materials purchased for building operations. This must be within full compliance of the Best Practice procedures and the Company’s Health, Safety & Environmental Policies.

We are pleased to say, this role can accommodate agile working arrangements.

Let’s cut to the chase, what’s in it for you...

• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
• Agile working possible (dependent on role)
• Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Healthcare
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance – 4 x your annual salary
• Share incentive schemes
• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits...

In return, what we would like from you...

• Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality
• 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A – C, including English and Mathematics
• Proven length of experience working for a contractor or residential house developer in a buying role
• A good understanding of building regulations and legal obligations
• A good knowledge of construction methods and materials
• Strong mathematical and IT ability. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages
• Ability to assess and analyse information
• Good commercial sense
• Good understanding of budget management
• Negotiating and networking skills
• Excellent communications skills
• Able to work under pressure, and accept criticism of work
• Good team working skills
• Accurate with an eye for detail
• Willingness to go above and beyond to meet deadlines as and when the business requires it

Desirable...

• Degree in Construction or similar, or,
• HNC / ONC in Construction or similar
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, or working towards full membership
• Working towards being a chartered member of the Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS)
• Experience of COINS

More about the Senior Buyer role...

• Ensure all materials are delivered to sites in line with current build programmes, specification and are purchased at competitive prices in line with the company’s group & regional deals where applicable.
• Ensure the procurement of all sites/buying phases are continually monitored against budget.
• Maintain an up-to-date library of standard house type material schedules.
• Produce accurate site-specific material schedules and process material orders.
• Monitor material order values against budget values and address large variations with the Regional Buying Manager.
• Liaise with other regional buyers to negotiate national bulk price agreements group deals.
• Ensure the tender process is adhered to for all new sites/phases in line with the regions tendering/procurement policy.
• Negotiate regional bulk price agreements and ensure competitive quotations are obtained for materials not covered by bulk agreements.
• Continually monitor price agreements to ensure they always remain competitive.
• Continually monitor supplier performance and hold regular meetings with main suppliers.
• Place orders for key show home materials before pre-start meetings if required to meet showhouse programme dates.
• Process site purchase orders for replacement materials and produce monthly reports detailing expenditure.
• Continually research new products.
• Ensure the invoice checking procedure is being carried out and where necessary negotiate credits.
• Monitor the goods received sheets and liaise with build and site managers to ensure correct completion procedures are maintained.
• Complete stock valuation exercises as required during the year.
• Continually monitor material lead times, keeping build and site managers informed, instigate forward material allocation when necessary.
• Manage site call-offs and carry out regular stock takes to ensure site stocks remain cost effective.
• Maintain general specification for the regions housing range and ensure compliance with divisional general specification.
• Manage all amendments to specification as and when required.
• Monitor plant levels and ensure it is off lined when no longer needed.
• Ensure some labour and all material sub-contractors are procured within the agreed programme and to within budgetary levels.
• Ensure the efficient running of the computerised sub-contract purchasing system.
• Maintain a library of standard house type sub-contract schedules.
• Manage estimating functions for production of accurate estimated costs for housing, roads and sewers.
• Produce site specific material schedules.
• Ensure the material database is kept up to date.
• Ensure material tender lists are prepared in conjunction with the build department, and to the approval of the Regional Buying Manager / Commercial Manager.
• Ensure tenders are checked and comply with site specification and current trade specifications, and the tender drawings for the site include the Bovis Homes standard details.
• Produce reports comparing tender prices obtained, and an analysis of how they compare to the viability.
• Report to the Regional Buying Manager / Commercial Manager on the tender enquiry status and seek authorisation to place sub-contract orders.
• Ensure all material orders are processed correctly and efficiently.
• Ensure copies of approved material tenders lists, authorised tender enquiry summaries and cost valuation reports are kept on record.
• Continually monitor sub-contractor performance by liaising with build and surveying personnel.
• Ensure company procedures are followed with regard to the termination of any material suppliers and seek to replace with an alternative material supplier within budgetary levels.
• Provide support to junior buyers and ensure the efficient running of the buying team.
• Ensure you keep up to date with legislation changes and attend training and technical training as when require by the Company.
• Attend departmental meetings as required.
• Deal with queries from site managers.

Finally, let’s tell you a bit more about us...

We’re Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes. Our core values of integrity, caring, and quality shape all we do; our partnership-led approach helps us build sustainable communities where they’re needed most.

You’re probably familiar with our unmatched portfolio of brands: Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, and Countryside Homes. We also have Vistry Works, our timber frame manufacturing operation, and Vistry Services, our support functions. Together, we build more than homes, so there’s nowhere better to build your career. We’re proud that our culture sees everyone treated fairly and respectfully, with diversity and inclusion a top priority and reasonable adjustments provided during the application process. Join us in making Vistry.

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