Assistant Buyer

The Role

This role is for someone wanting to kick start a procurement career or take next steps to obtain MCIPS. You do not need a scientific or engineering background to succeed in this role. We are looking for people who are organised, curious, and eager to develop procurement skill.

Supporting the wider Tokamak Energy team, this role has been created to deliver its current and future objectives whilst developing the role holder into a procurement professional.

This will be a diverse role, suiting a flexible, collaborative, and results-oriented individual who would enjoy developing and applying a diverse breadth of Procurement knowledge and skills.

Focusing on indirect procurement activities across HR, Premises, IT and brand the role holder will need to build close collaborations with stakeholders within Tokamak Energy.

Although initially focus will be on Indirect spend there can also be the opportunities to gain experience in direct project procurement activities.

What You'll Be Doing

In this role, you will:

• Manage the placing and chasing of purchase orders in line with company procedures, with regular communication to the end user.
• Obtain competitive quotations, where expected spend and timelines allow.
• Work collaboratively with various departments to understand the procurement activities in such area.
• With support from the Procurement team, develop procurement plans and sourcing strategies.
• Introduce suitable new suppliers to improve delivery, quality and value.
• Deal with the administrative work involved in procurement including purchase order management, supply issues and invoice queries.
• Assist in reviewing supplier spend and identifying opportunities for efficiencies and savings.
• Work on ad-hoc procurement projects as the company requires.

Working arrangements

This role is hybrid with 60% onsite at our easily accessible premises in Milton Park, Abingdon. There is free car parking onsite and excellent public transport connections. Our standard approach is a minimum 60% onsite / 40% home working split. We are committed to considering reasonable adjustments and flexible arrangements where appropriate.

We welcome applications from candidates with transferable skills gained through education, work experience, apprenticeships, military service, volunteering or other relevant activities.

• High level of attention to detail and well organised
• Works well within a team
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritise workload
• Flexible individual who can adjust to an agile environment Proactive, methodical, practical, resilient and proactive
• Able to manage competing priorities effectively
• Microsoft Office suite proficient
• An interest in developing a career in procurement, including working towards professional qualifications such as MCIPS

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and 3 festive days to be used between Christmas and the New Year)
• Company pension scheme
• Eligible for company share option scheme
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependant on performance
• A range of financial benefits including death in service and critical illness cover
• Cycle to work scheme

Company background

What if there was a limitless, safe, clean, low-cost energy source, providing much needed global energy security?  What if that energy source could also help address climate change?  The answer is fusion energy – the power of the stars. Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford with have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion.

In addition to fusion, Tokamak Energy is recognised as a world leader in transformative High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on enabling new levels of performance and becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets, including renewable energy, medicine, science and propulsion in water, land, air and space. 

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from UK Atomic Energy Authority, currently employs a growing team of over 260 people with experts from the UK and around the world.  It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities.  The company has more than 75 families of patent applications and has raised $335 million, comprising $275m from private investors and $60m from the UK and U.S. governments.  Our U.S. subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019.

Come and be a part of a dynamic and innovative team striving to provide a solution to one of humanity’s greatest challenges: clean and sustainable fusion energy for all.

Important information for candidates

Pre-employment screening

Please note that the appointment of the successful candidate will be subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post. This will include right-to-work, proof of identity and references.

Data privacy

Please note that any personal data submitted to Tokamak Energy as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation, for more information regarding GDPR please see:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation

Equality of opportunity

Entry into employment with the Tokamak Energy and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We’re committed to building an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will do our best to support you.