Galliford Try
Assistant Buyer
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JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT BUYER
Location: Sussex/Rickmansworth/Hybrid
Region: Southern
Division: Environment
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Reports to: Senior Procurement Manager
ABOUT US
Galliford Try is one of the UK's leading construction groups, delivering vital buildings and infrastructure across education, health, highways, water and environment sectors. We are a progressive, people-orientated, values-driven business committed to long-term positive impact for our clients and communities. Our work is built on collaboration, integrity, innovation, and sustainable delivery across thousands of projects nationwide.
OUR ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Our Environment business is a specialist division of Galliford Try focused on delivering essential infrastructure that keeps the UK’s water and environmental systems running efficiently and sustainably.
Operating across the UK, we work with all 13 of the country’s major water and sewerage companies, as well as public and private sector clients, to tackle the challenges of ageing infrastructure, climate resilience, funding pressures and regulation. Our expertise helps ensure vital water and environmental services are resilient and sustainable for the future.
PROCUREMENT
Our supply chain approach is central to our success — we build long-term, collaborative partnerships with suppliers and subcontractors to drive shared performance, innovation and social value outcomes across our projects.
We’re now seeking an Assistant Buyer to join our high-performing Southern Region team to support the delivery of excellence across our projects for our clients Southern Water and Affinity Water with an estimated order book of circa £1.2bn.
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THE ROLE
As an Assistant Buyer, you will play a key support role within the regional procurement function, helping source materials, plant, and subcontract services across a range of projects while ensuring compliance with our procurement standards and values.
Working closely with project teams and reporting into and working with the Buyer and Senior Buyer, you will help maintain streamlined procurement processes and contribute to our collaborative, high-performing culture.
The role will provide an on-the-job learning opportunity and a step into a progressive career in procurement in an ever-increasing industry.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supporting the procurement of materials, plant, and subcontract services across the Southern Region Environment Division projects for Southern Water and Affinity Water.
- Obtaining and evaluating supplier quotations, raising purchase orders, and ensuring orders align with procurement procedures.
- Work with procurement, commercial and operational teams to review procurement schedules at project level to secure best value.
- Helping project teams forecast materials, manage lead times, and monitor supplier performance.
- Support tender enquiries, tender analysis and procurement schedule reviews.
- Ensure compliance with client framework agreements and Galliford Try preferred supplier arrangements.
- Engaging with suppliers and attending events, workshops and project-based supply chain meetings to strengthen collaborative relationships.
- Share best practice across regional buying teams and support wider procurement initiatives.
- Contributing to innovation initiatives including digital procurement, carbon reduction, and modern methods of construction such as off-site manufacturing.
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ABOUT YOU
We’re looking for someone enthusiastic, organised, and ready to grow their career in procurement.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS:
- Strong administration and organisational skills.
- Ability to communicate confidently with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Good attention to detail and ability to prioritise.
- Basic commercial understanding.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office.
DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES:
- Positive, can-do attitude
- Previous experience within construction, engineering or infrastructure sectors,
- Desire to work toward CIPS accreditation.
WHY JOIN GALLIFORD TRY?
You’ll be joining a respected, award-winning procurement function led by industry-recognised experts, who oversees strategic procurement across the business and drives innovation, collaboration and high performance.
We offer:
- Clear career progression pathways (Buyer → Senior Buyer → Procurement Manager).
- Support for professional development, including CIPS.
- The opportunity to work on major national frameworks and long-term public sector programmes.
- A collaborative culture that values people, integrity, excellence, and long-term partnerships.
Additional Information
Galliford Try welcomes applications from candidates who would like to work full-time, reduced hours or flexibly and this will be discussed further during the recruitment process.
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