At a Glance
- Tasks: Source and procure materials while negotiating competitive prices and ensuring timely delivery.
- Company: Join Curo, a leading housing association with a social purpose at its core.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus scheme, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Hybrid working model and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in housebuilding while developing your procurement skills.
- Qualifications: 10 years of experience in materials procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 52128 - 52128 £ per year.
- Buyer (Curo Enterprise)
- £52,128 per annum + benefits | Bath | Hybrid - 3 days onsite, 2 days remote
- Full Time | 6‑month fixed term contract | 37 hours per week
The Buyer plays a key role in ensuring the cost‑effective and responsible procurement of materials and plant.
I will be responsible for sourcing quality products, negotiating competitive commercial terms, and ensuring timely delivery to support build programmes and operational needs.
- What You’ll Be Doing
- Procure materials and plant in line with agreed purchasing deals, quality standards and build programmes.
- Negotiate competitive prices, terms and rebate agreements with suppliers and manufacturers.
- Identify, assess and pre‑qualify suitable suppliers and specification‑led subcontractors.
- Prepare accurate take‑offs, material schedules and purchase orders.
- Issue price enquiries, collate and analyse quotations, and provide cost and value assessments.
- Provide cost information and highlight risk and opportunity for budgetary purposes.
- Monitor market conditions and make recommendations for specification changes that achieve savings without compromising quality.
- Liaise closely with site teams to manage deliveries in line with the build programme.
- Communicate material changes, major price movements and lead times to relevant departments.
- Resolve supply and invoice queries efficiently.
- Attend site meetings at key stages to review progress and agree any required actions.
- Maintain strong commercial awareness and contribute to value engineering initiatives.
- Demonstrate knowledge of housebuilding construction methods, material components, Building Regulations and Health & Safety requirements.
- Take personal responsibility for my own health and safety and that of others by working at all times in accordance with Curo’s Health & Safety policies and procedures.
About You
- Ideally hold a relevant qualification such as a CIPS, BTEC HNC/HND or Degree.
- Evidence minimum 10 years experience in a similar role, within materials procurement for housebuilding.
- Demonstrate strong, current knowledge of construction products, specifications and pricing.
- Demonstrate strong verbal, written, analytical and negotiation skills.
- Be competent in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Have a solid understanding of COINS, Bluebeam, Project Vault or equivalent systems (desirable).
- Evidence the ability to interpret architectural and engineering drawings and build information.
- Demonstrate the ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
- Maintain strong commercial awareness with a focus on value and efficiency for the business.
- Understand value engineering principles and apply them throughout the procurement process.
- Evidence resilience and the ability to manage unplanned activities.
- Be collaborative, personable and committed to continuous improvement.
- Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
- How you’ll evidence your success
- Ensure developments are procured to a high standard, achieving forecast margins and programme targets.
- Meet the KPIs and objectives agreed for my role.
- Demonstrate effective budget management throughout the year.
- Provide tangible evidence of improvements and value delivered.
- Demonstrate full compliance with legislative and company requirements.
- Receive positive feedback from peers and management regarding my effectiveness and approach.
- Actively participate in Curo company life and contribute to wider business objectives.
- About Curo Enterprise
We’re the award‑winning commercial housebuilding division of Curo, a profit‑for‑purpose housing association.
All our profits go back into Homes for Good, social housing and affordable homes that help communities and people.
We’re a small, experienced team delivering developments within an hour’s travel of Bath, with a culture built around the quality of what we deliver.
About Curo
We’re a leading South West housing association with social purpose at our heart.
We provide affordable homes and create positive futures in our communities.
We’re proud to be among the UK’s top 100 companies to work for, and the 5th best housing association nationwide.
We actively welcome applications from candidates who identify as disabled, LGBTQ+, from ethnic minority backgrounds, and from our Curo customers.
We’re committed to making our recruitment process accessible to everyone — if you need any adjustments to help you apply or interview, please contact our recruitment team at
- What You’ll Get In Return
- Competitive salary
- A bonus scheme
- Support for your professional development
- 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) rising to 29 days after 3 years
- Your birthday off as an extra holiday
- Up to 10% matched pension contribution, with 6× salary life assurance
- Hybrid working (3 days office, 2 days home or site)
- An employee benefits platform including a Health Cash Plan, cycle‑to‑work, gym membership, holiday trading and retail discounts
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Buyer 6-Month Fixed Term Contract in Bath employer: Curo
Curo is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Bath where you can contribute to meaningful housing projects. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development alongside competitive benefits such as 26 days of annual leave and flexible perks, ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Join us to be part of a collaborative team that values quality and innovation in construction management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer 6-Month Fixed Term Contract in Bath
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer 6-Month Fixed Term Contract in Bath
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Curo that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Curo can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Curo that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Curo know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Curo
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
