Buyer - Contractor

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 3 May 2026
LOCATION
Guildford
TYPE
Contract
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Management & Operations
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Purchasing Negotiation Supplier Management MRP/ERP MS Office Supply Chain Management Communication Tender Preparation

FULL DESCRIPTION

Buyer - Contractor

Company: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

Location: Guildford (with occasional travel to Bordon)

Employment Type: Contract (6-12 months, inside IR35)

Key Purpose of Job

To provide support for the purchasing of electronic components, bespoke electro-mechanical components, and consumables for spacecraft systems and sub-systems.

Key Tasks

  • Interpreting MRP results, placing, and administer purchase orders for demand or allocate from free stock to project requirements
  • Negotiating price and delivery to meet demand, via MRP results and/or purchase requisitions
  • Actively engage and manage suppliers and contractors including supplier selection, auditing, evaluation of supplier performance and compliance
  • Ensure that goods and services are delivered in accordance with the order instructions and ensure an efficient service is provided to the end user
  • Ensure that all procurement activity and tender requirements are in accordance with the company's regulations
  • Encourage and influence to ensure areas of spends, direct and in-direct are channelled through Procurement
  • Other activities as delegated by Senior Buyers and/or Head of Procurement
  • Liaise with the stakeholders, as and when necessary
  • Attend core team meetings to report progress/status

Person Specification

Qualifications

  • CIPS member/associate would be preferred but not essential

Experience

  • Previous purchasing experience essential
  • Experience in aerospace would be beneficial, however any experience in a high value and low volume environment would also be acceptable
  • Good understanding of MRP/ERP system would be a distinct advantage, although not essential as training will be provided.

Knowledge & Skills

  • Organised, accurate and an attention to detail is essential
  • Pragmatic and results oriented behaviour
  • Good inter-personal skill; able to communicate at all levels across the business coupled with excellent negotiation skills
  • Able to resolve conflicting priorities and demands
  • Able to work within a pressurised environment
  • Pro-active and flexible with a can-do attitude
  • Computer literate, with good MS Office skills
  • A good understanding of Terms and Conditions
  • Knowledge of preparing tenders
  • Ability to meet targets and deadlines
  • Knowledge of supply chain management

Location

Based in Guildford with occasional travel to Bordon when required.

Department: Procurement | Role: Buyer | Locations: Guildford | Employment type: Contract | Job Reference: 381

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