Materials Buyer - construction industry

Materials Buyer – construction industry

The duties of a buyer include: 

Providing prices for all materials included in project plans and drawings
Identifying potential suppliers and new products
Contacting a range of suppliers and sub‐contractors to obtain quotations
Agreeing delivery times
Keeping detailed records and maintaining well‐organised work schedules
Assessing the reliability of sub‐contractors and suppliers
Dealing effectively with challenges with suppliers and the flow of materials
Ensuring compliance with the safety, health and environment requirements of materials and services
Providing advice to the project estimator on the predicted cost of individual items
Liaising closely with the estimator at the tendering stage to ensure that an accurate project cost is provided
Preparing and maintaining cost reports in order to maximise efficiency within the business
Negotiating and agreeing the most favourable terms possible with suppliers once a contract has been secured
As a buyer, you will mainly work in an office, and can expect to work around 40 hours a week.
Skills

Additional skills which can be complementary to a buyer include: 

Knowledge and understanding of construction materials 
Good communication skills
Strong maths and budgeting abilities
Analytical thinking skills
Negotiation skills