Assistant Buyer (fixed term contract)

Are you an experienced Assistant Buyer available at short notice? We are recruiting for an Assistant Buyer to work on a 6-9 month temp/contract for a growing manufacturing company in the Basildon area of Essex. As an Assistant Buyer you will be assisting and supporting the purchasing team with day to day buying activities, site based role.

Your primary responsibility is to assist with the procurement of parts and materials by raising purchase orders, expediting deliveries, communicating with suppliers and maintaining accurate system data.

You will work closely with account management, production, and operations teams to ensure materials are available to meet customer and production requirements. This position is ideal for someone looking to develop their purchasing career within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Main responsibilities

1. Raise purchase orders for components and materials in line with business requirements.
2. Support supplier communication, including obtaining price and delivery quotations
3. Expedite open orders and follow up on overdue deliveries to maintain production flow.
4. Assist in managing supplier pushouts, cancellations and delivery rescheduling.
5. Maintain accurate data in MRP and purchasing systems: updating pricing, lead times and supplier information.
6. Support the preparation of cost data for new project quotations.
7. Ensure documentation and purchasing records are accurate and well maintained.

Skills, knowledge & experience

Some experience working in a manufacturing environment would be preferred.

• Previous purchasing or supply chain support experience.
• Good organisation and planning skills: ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Strong numeracy skills with confidence using Excel and databases.
• Good communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with suppliers and internal teams.
• Experience with MRP or stock management systems

Salary circa 30,000 (pro rata). 37 hours per week. Free parking on site.