Role overview ID: 2025-7275 Entity: Vistry Region: Vistry East London Department: Commercial Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time Job Location: Warley, Essex Date Posted: 07.05.2025 We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Buyer to join our team within Vistry East London, at our Brentwood office. As our Senior Buyer, you will provide a full range of cost control, forecasting and financial reporting duties on all aspects of materials supply and plant for construction work within your region. Working closely with the wider Commercial team, you will be responsible for the performance of the sites within your control. 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 Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to up to 39 days with service 2 Volunteering days per annum Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary Share save and 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 Sound knowledge of construction techniques, building standards, environmental & sustainability standards 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 Strong 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 Manage, coach and develop the Assistant Buyer to create a high-performing and efficient team, working closely with key stakeholders within the business. Lead the pre-start meetings, including the presentation of relevant Health & Safety documentation. Support the wider Commercial and Buying team with new products and innovation by investigating new solutions and innovations within the industry. Deputise for the Buying / Procurement Manager where necessary and assist with the production of sales specifications for each project. Agree the price specification with manufacturers of key suppliers, preparing the CPC1 (Material Costs) including providing material schedules from working drawings. Place material orders and procure additional materials not covered by schedules and place supplementary orders, analysing any variations. Place plant orders by liaising with the Construction Director for compound layout and site set-up. Produce cost reports and provide analysis of material costs for completion, actioning material and plant invoices. Required to attend and report on procurement at each site progress meeting. 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. Required to read and understand construction drawings and on occasion take off and schedule material quantities from drawings and 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. 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 exercised 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. 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 o