Assistant Buyer \ Buyer (Permanent) – Team Valley, Gateshead

Salary: £26,000–£35,000 (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (office-based)

Start/finish: Core hours with flexible start times (typically between 8:00–9:30am)

A growing civil engineering contractor is looking to appoint a permanent Assistant Buyer to join their head office team in Team Valley, Gateshead. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with procurement support experience who enjoys a varied, fast-paced role supporting live projects, working closely with suppliers, and keeping purchasing and administration running smoothly.

There is genuine development on offer, including a clear route into Buyer level and support towards CIPS/MCIPS if you’d like to pursue professional accreditation.

The Opportunity

You’ll support the buying function across multiple live sites and projects, combining planned/material purchasing with practical coordination and day-to-day admin support. The role suits someone proactive, organised, and comfortable chasing actions through to completion.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement and purchasing support

• Support planned and day-to-day purchasing of materials, plant and services
• Obtain quotes for requisitions and help ensure best value and lead times
• Raise purchase orders accurately and in a timely manner
• Liaise with project/site teams on purchasing queries, deliveries and supply issues
• Work with the commercial/QS team where needed to check allowances and approvals
• Support supplier meetings/visits alongside the Buyer when required
• Assist with negotiating and tracking rebate terms with suppliers

Supplier, systems and compliance administration

• Help maintain the approved supplier list and support supplier onboarding/credit applications
• Keep the internal management system and procurement records up to date
• Maintain accurate information within Sage and other internal systems
• Assist with occasional import/export administration where required

Invoice queries and general coordination

• Handle invoice queries, resolve discrepancies and support invoice control processes
• Support coordination tasks including hotel bookings, PPE requests and material supply follow-up
• Provide general admin support, including answering inbound office calls
• Assist with fleet-related administration as required
• Pick up ad hoc tasks that help the wider team and projects run efficiently

What We’re Looking For

• We’re looking for someone with 1.5–2+ years’ experience (or more) in a purchasing/procurement support role. Experience within construction, civil engineering, or the built environment is beneficial, but not essential.
• Confident communicator with strong phone manner and the ability to liaise with suppliers and internal teams
• Strong IT skills (comfortable using purchasing/finance systems such as Sage, plus good Excel/Outlook ability)
• Highly organised with a strong ability to prioritise workload and keep on top of loose ends
• High attention to detail, particularly around orders, pricing, delivery notes and invoices
• Comfortable following processes and procedures, and confident to ask questions or flag issues early
• Proactive and able to use initiative without needing constant direction

What You’ll Get

• Permanent, full-time role based in a modern head office environment in Team Valley
• Flexible start times within core hours (37.5 hours per week)
• Salary of £26,000–£35,000 depending on experience
• A busy, varied role with real exposure to a professional buying function
• Progression pathway to Buyer level and beyond
• 25 Days holiday + Stats increases after 5 years
• Government Auto Enrol Pension Scheme
• Support towards CIPS/MCIPS for those who want to develop professionally

About the Business

This is a well-established contractor (operating since 2007) delivering complex civil engineering works across the UK, including marine and heavy civils projects. The business has continued to grow, recently expanding its office presence in Team Valley, and typically operates multiple live sites at any one time. Work spans river and coastal schemes, quaysides and harbour structures, reinforced concrete works, steel piling, flood defences and design-and-build contracts, often within technically demanding and environmentally sensitive environments.

Apply / Confidentiality

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Your details will not be shared with anyone until we’ve discussed the opportunity in more detail and you’re happy to proceed. We will also confirm the name of the company hiring for this role during the same conversation.

To apply, simply click “Apply for this Job” on this listing, or email your CV to cv@fulcrumrecruit.com

If you have any questions beforehand, feel free to call 07880 369 557.