Buyer

Transport for Wales; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Pullman Rail, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, is seeking a Buyer to join our Procurement team. You will oversee end-to-end procurement of goods and services to support operational delivery, collaborating with production, engineering and finance to identify requirements and source suppliers.

You will negotiate terms to secure best value while minimising risk in a safety-critical rail environment. Welsh language skills are optional.

Qualifications

• Experienced Buyer with a background in heavy industrial or safety-critical environments (rail experience desirable).
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills to secure favourable commercial outcomes.
• Experience in supplier evaluation, contract management, cost-reduction initiatives and procurement planning.
• Confident communicator who can build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Sound financial acumen, attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills.
• CIPS recognised qualification – desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive value for money, profitability and operational efficiency through sourcing, negotiation and contract management.
• Apply category management principles, draft and support contracts, monitor supplier KPIs and build strategic supplier relationships.
• Issue RFQs, evaluate bid proposals and negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms to support informed decision-making.
• Manage supplier approval processes, maintain records and ensure suppliers meet quality, delivery and performance expectations.
• Raise, process and expedite purchase orders for direct and indirect materials, resolving supply issues to maintain production schedules.
• Monitor procurement spend, identify cost-saving opportunities and support budget management, reconciliations and month-end processes.
• Conduct forecasting to maintain appropriate stock levels, mitigate supply chain risks and prevent shortages.
• Contribute to procurement improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects to enhance efficiency and supply chain performance.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Procurement planning

Supplier evaluation

Contract management

Education

CIPS recognised qualification

Job description

This advert is placed on behalf of Pullman Rail, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales.

Salary: £35,000 a year

At Pullman Rail we value diversity. It makes us stronger, helps us understand our customers better, make better decisions and be more innovative. Everyone’s different and has their own perspective so we’re building a diverse team that mirrors the communities we serve. Through this we’re determined to be one of Wales' leading inclusive employers.

Who we are

We are seeking a Buyer to join our Procurement team, reporting to the Procurement Manager. This role is responsible for the effective end-to-end procurement of goods and services required to support operational delivery across the business.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders across production, engineering and finance to identify requirements, source and evaluate suppliers, obtain competitive quotations and negotiate commercial terms to secure best value while minimising risk.

The role plays a key part in ensuring quality, reliability and performance standards are consistently met within a safety-critical rail and rolling stock environment.

Role responsibilities

We are seeking a Buyer to join our Procurement team, reporting to the Procurement Manager. This role is responsible for the effective end-to-end procurement of goods and services required to support operational delivery across the business.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders across production, engineering and finance to identify requirements, source and evaluate suppliers, obtain competitive quotations and negotiate commercial terms to secure best value while minimising risk.

The role plays a key part in ensuring quality, reliability and performance standards are consistently met within a safety-critical rail and rolling stock environment.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Commercial Delivery & Excellence – Drive value for money, profitability and operational efficiency through effective sourcing, negotiation and contract management.
• Category & Contract Management – Apply category management principles, draft and support contracts, monitor supplier KPIs and build strategic supplier relationships.
• Sourcing & Negotiation – Issue RFQs, evaluate bid proposals and negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms to support informed decision-making.
• Supplier Management – Manage supplier approval processes, maintain accurate records and ensure suppliers meet quality, delivery and performance expectations.
• Operational Support – Raise, process and expedite purchase orders for direct and indirect materials, resolving supply issues to maintain production schedules.
• Cost Control & Financial Governance – Monitor procurement spend, identify cost-saving opportunities and support budget management, reconciliations and month-end processes.
• Demand Planning & Risk Management – Conduct forecasting to maintain appropriate stock levels, mitigate supply chain risks and prevent shortages.
• Continuous Improvement – Contribute to procurement improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects to enhance efficiency and supply chain performance.

Who we’re looking for

• An experienced Buyer with a background in heavy industrial, manufacturing, automotive or other safety-critical environments (rail experience desirable).
• A professional with strong negotiation and analytical skills, capable of securing favourable commercial outcomes.
• Someone with experience in supplier evaluation, contract management, cost reduction initiatives and procurement planning.
• A confident communicator who can build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• An individual with sound financial acumen, attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills.
• CIPS recognised qualification – desirable.

You will be highly organised, commercially aware and comfortable managing multiple priorities within a fast-paced operational environment.

Welsh Language Skills

The ability to speak/write Welsh would make a great addition to your application, but it is not essential for this role.

This advert will close at midnight on the day of the application closing date stated above. We do encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

Note that you must hold the permanent right to work in the UK. We are not currently able to provide sponsorship.