International Buyer - Procurement, Purchasing & Supply Chain

International Buyer | Procurement | Purchasing | Supply Chain

Location: Colchester, Essex (Office-based)
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-1:00pm & 2:00pm-5:00pm (37.5 hours per week)

Are you looking to develop your career in international procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing
? Our client, a well-established and growing international trading company based in Colchester, is looking to recruit an International Buyer to join their successful procurement team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in buying, purchasing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, import/export or customer service
, who enjoys working in a fast-paced international environment. Previous buying experience is advantageous but not essential, as full training will be provided for the right candidate.

Our client is an established international trading business specialising in the sourcing and supply of specialist industrial equipment to customers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and worldwide. They pride themselves on delivering outstanding customer service, building long-term supplier relationships, and providing innovative procurement solutions for industrial clients.

As an International Buyer
, you will play a key role in managing the procurement process from initial customer enquiry through to supplier negotiation, purchasing and delivery.

Working closely with international suppliers, logistics partners and customers, you will ensure products are sourced competitively, orders are processed efficiently and deliveries are completed on time.

• Source products and identify new international suppliers and manufacturers
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships (Supplier Relationship Management - SRM)
• Request and compare quotations from multiple suppliers
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms and delivery schedules
• Prepare customer quotations and pricing proposals
• Raise and manage purchase orders
• Monitor supplier performance and order progress
• Coordinate with warehouse, shipping and logistics teams to ensure timely delivery
• Resolve supplier or delivery issues where required
• Maintain accurate procurement and purchasing records
• Support Customer Relationship Management (CRM) activities to deliver excellent customer service
• Ensure purchasing activities meet company quality and commercial standards

We are interested in hearing from candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Buying
• Procurement
• Purchasing
• Supply Chain
• Logistics
• Import & Export
• Shipping
• International Trade
• Customer Service
• Sales Support
• Commercial Administration

• Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong administrative and organisational abilities
• High level of attention to detail
• Commercial awareness and good problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage multiple orders simultaneously
• Confident using Microsoft Office and business systems
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Full right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available)
• Own transport to commute to the office in Colchester

• Previous experience as a Buyer, Procurement Assistant, Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Executive, Procurement Coordinator, Supply Chain Coordinator, Procurement Specialist or International Buyer
• Experience negotiating with suppliers
• Knowledge of logistics, shipping or international trade
• Experience using ERP, MRP or procurement systems
• Fluency in a second language is highly desirable, particularly:
  • German
  • Italian
  • Arabic

• Salary of £30,000-£35,000 depending on experience
• Permanent full-time position
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Monday-Friday working hours (37.5 hours per week)
• Opportunity to build an international procurement career
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Ongoing training and career development
• Exposure to global suppliers and international business