Full job descriptionPurchasing Assistant
*Job Type: Full-time
*Location: Birmingham
*Salary: £30,000
We are looking for a Purchasing Assistant to provide administrative and commercial support across the business, with a stronger focus on procurement activity. The Purchasing Assistant will help ensure supplier orders, records and quotation documents are prepared accurately and in a timely manner. This is an excellent opportunity for a Purchasing Assistant with experience in purchasing, procurement, material control or a similar administrative role.
Day-to-day of the role
*Prepare and issue purchase orders in line with approved requisitions.
*Obtain and compare supplier quotations, taking into account price, quantity, lead times and commercial terms such as landed costs.
*Liaise with suppliers to secure order acknowledgements and confirm delivery dates.
*Chase outstanding orders by email and telephone, keeping suppliers informed where orders are overdue.
*Support the identification of alternative suppliers and cost-saving opportunities, subject to technical and commercial approval.
*Assist in resolving pricing, batch and invoice queries with suppliers and internal teams.
*Review weekly stock reports and raise purchase orders where required.
*Support new product introductions and RFQs by submitting requests to the supply base.
*Assist with material control and reporting, including weekly and month-end reports, planning reports and negative stock reports.
*Provide day-to-day administrative support to the commercial team, including preparing customer quotations for routine referrals and aftermarket items.
Required Skills & Qualifications
*Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, material control or a similar administrative role.
*Confidence working with numerical information and strong attention to detail.
*Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with suppliers.
*Strong spreadsheet skills and confidence using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
*Ability to use computer systems and databases accurately and efficiently.
*Team-oriented approach, while also being able to work independently when needed.
*Flexible, practical and organised, with the ability to manage a varied workload.
*Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
*Experience within an engineering or manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
*Experience using an ERP or MRP system would be beneficial.
Benefits
*Annual bonus
*1pm finishes on a Friday
*33 days holiday
*Great opportunities for development and progression
*Opportunity to work across both purchasing and commercial functions.
*Exposure to procurement, supplier management and material control processes.
*Supportive team environment with scope to build experience in a varied role.