JUNIOR BUYER

Role: Junior Buyer

Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester

Salary: £25k-27k (Depending on Experience)

Hours/Days: Monday to Thursday 0800-1700 / Friday 0800-1200 (Potential to WFH)

Job Description:

The Junior Buyer supports the Procurement team by maintaining the accuracy and integrity of purchase order data, progressing and expediting outstanding orders with suppliers, and providing day-to-day operational cover within the team. The role plays a key part in sustaining the accuracy of supplier delivery performance (OTIF) reporting, supporting delivery of departmental KPIs, and ensuring procurement processes are followed consistently. The position provides a structured development pathway into broader buying responsibility over time.

Purchase order housekeeping & data integrity

• Maintain and update purchase order records, ensuring required, promised, and latest delivery dates are entered and kept accurate and up to date.

• Monitor open order reports to identify missing, overdue, or inconsistent data and resolve or escalate as needed.

• Support the accuracy of data feeding the supplier On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) KPI and other procurement reporting.

• Ensure purchase order documentation is correctly filed and compliant with internal process and audit requirements.

• Maintain the integrity of supplier and purchase order data within the ERP system, escalating discrepancies that could affect production or delivery schedules.

Expediting & supplier follow-up

• Chase suppliers for order acknowledgements, updated delivery dates, and shipment confirmations.

• Proactively flag orders at risk of late delivery and support timely resolution with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Maintain regular communication with key suppliers on the status of open orders.

• Monitor supplier delivery performance and support actions to improve OTIF results, escalating recurring issues to the Procurement Manager.

Reporting support

• Support production of the weekly supplier OTIF report and other routine procurement reporting.

• Help maintain data feeding the team's vis board and KPI tracking.

• Support the analysis of procurement KPI data to help identify trends and areas for improvement.

Team cover & continuity

• Provide day-to-day operational cover for core buying and PO administration activity during colleague absence or leave.

• Build sufficient working knowledge of key suppliers and processes to maintain continuity in the Buyer's absence.

General

• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Planning, Goods-In, and Finance to resolve order and delivery queries.

• Undertake other reasonable duties as required to support the Procurement function.

• Over time, and subject to performance and business need, take on broader buying responsibilities – including ownership of specific supplier relationships – as part of a structured development pathway.

• Any other ad hoc duties as may be required, and as commensurate with the grade of post.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

Essential

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and general IT literacy.

• Strong attention to detail and comfortable working with data.

• Clear, confident communicator, comfortable liaising with suppliers and internal colleagues.

• Well organised, able to manage multiple open tasks and follow up reliably.

• A proactive, ownership-minded approach – willing to chase issues to resolution rather than simply log them.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and check data for accuracy.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a purchasing, supply chain, planning, or administrative role within a manufacturing environment.

• Familiarity with an ERP/MRP system (e.g. Progress Plus, SAP, or similar).

• Interest in working towards a recognised procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS), with support available from the business.

Behaviours

• Takes ownership of tasks through to completion.

• Looks for ways to improve processes and outcomes within own area of work.

• Reliable and consistent – particularly important given the role's data-integrity and cover responsibilities.

• Willing to learn and take on increasing responsibility over time.

• Works well as part of a small, close-knit team.

Development

This role is deliberately structured as an entry point into procurement. With growing experience, there is a clear pathway to take on broader buying responsibility – including supplier management and negotiation – building toward a Buyer-level role over time, supported by structured on-the-job development, mentoring, and, where appropriate, formal training and procurement qualifications.