Job Description

About the job

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Assistant to manage and optimise our daily third-party fuel purchasing activity. The role is responsible for placing daily orders with external suppliers, ensuring fuel is bought from the right supplier, at the right price, at the right time, while maintaining security of supply and margin protection.

Beyond daily buying, the role will play a key part in streamlining and improving our wider procurement processes, bringing structure, insight, and consistency to how the business buys across multiple suppliers and products.

This is a commercial, analytical role requiring strong market awareness, negotiation skills, and the confidence to make informed buying decisions in fast-moving conditions.

This is not a Fuel Trading/Hedging role.

Key Responsibilities

Fuel Buying

Place daily fuel orders with third-party suppliers based on price, availability, logistics, and risk Monitor fuel markets, pricing movements, and supplier behaviour Assess short-term and medium-term market trends to inform buying decisions Maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and brokers Confirm all orders for invoicing

Commercial & Risk Management

Protect margin through informed buying decisions Understand pricing structures, differentials, and market volatility Support management with market insight, commentary, and buying rationale Identify opportunities to improve buying strategy or supplier mix

Procurement & Process Improvement

Review and streamline existing buying and procurement processes Introduce greater consistency, controls, and documentation where needed Help standardise supplier engagement, ordering methods, and approvals Support wider business buying activity beyond fuel where appropriate

Data, Systems & Reporting

Maintain accurate records of purchases, prices, and supplier performance Contribute to reporting on buying performance, savings, and trends Work closely with operations, finance, and sales teams to align purchasing with demand

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

Proven buying or procurement experience - 2/3 years minimum Strong commercial judgement and numerical confidence Ability to assess market information and make timely decisions Comfortable working in a fast-paced, price-sensitive environment Strong communication and relationship-management skills

Desirable

Experience in fuel, energy, commodities, or logistics markets Understanding of pricing mechanisms, margins, and market risk Experience improving or formalising procurement processes Advanced Excel or data analysis skills

Personal Attributes

Commercially minded and detail-driven Calm under pressure and decisive Curious about markets and pricing behaviour Process-focused with a continuous improvement mindset Trustworthy -- comfortable handling commercially sensitive information

Why Join Us

A well-established, independent fuel business with long-term stability that is part of a growing group - The Tate Family of Companies. A role with real commercial influence -- your decisions matter Opportunity to shape and improve how the business buys Supportive senior team with ambition to grow and modernise
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From 27,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Company pension Life insurance On-site parking
Application question(s):

Can you work within an onsite setting?
Experience:

Purchasing: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person