Buyer

Balfour Beatty plc; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working with up to 40% remote

25 days annual leave

Pension

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking an experienced procurement professional to manage end-to-end sourcing of subcontracts, materials, plant and equipment. You will prepare RFQs, evaluate bids and award contracts while building strong supplier relationships across projects.

You will support estimating/work-winning activities and collaborate with project teams to ensure value for money, timely delivery and adherence to HSQE standards. Hybrid working options are available in the UK.

Qualifications

• The following experience/qualifications are required: end-to-end procurement experience, tendering, and supplier management.
• Experience using Oracle R12 and Jaeegaer Bravo is advantageous.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to deliver cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement activities for subcontracts, materials, plant and equipment within a defined area.
• Prepare RFQs, evaluate responses and recommend awards.
• Conduct due diligence and commercial checks on suppliers.
• Negotiate terms, conditions and prices to meet saving targets.
• Record cost savings and drive continuous improvement across projects.
• Support estimating and work-winning opportunities with procurement input.
• Collaborate with project teams to resolve supply issues and align with HSQE objectives.

Skills

Results orientation

Problem solving

Written & verbal skills

Attention to detail

Prioritisation

End-to-end procurement

Bid/project planning

Negotiation skills

Analytical thinking

Flexibility

Team player

Commercial & financial awareness

Communication & influencing

Creative & pragmatic thinking

Adaptability to new processes/IT

Customer focus

Construction/civils knowledge

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

MCIPS / studying towards CIPS / equivalent qualifications

Tools

Oracle R12

Jaeegaer Bravo

Job description

About the role

In this role, you will be primarily accountable for the management of the end to end procurement activities for the sourcing of subcontracts, materials, plant and equipment for a specified area of the business unit but may also be required to support on other contracts in the Business Unit as required.

Some of your activities will include preparation of RFQ’s, management and evaluation of returns, and making sourcing recommendations to award contracts. The individual will be required to: lead elements of collecting and analysing internal and external data, contribute to periodic management reports, manage specific supply chains within the divisions to monitor performance and drive continuous improvement to support Project and Business Unit key objectives, ensuring compliance to internal policies and procedures at all times. The role has a requirement to build upon existing supply chain capacity and expertise, develop relationships with new suppliers where appropriate and embed collaborative working both with the estimating and project teams, as well as the supply chain.

What you'll be doing

• Proactive and efficient approach to the procurement of subcontract services and, including Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) through Jaeeg aer Bravo e-tendering portal to maximise value for money across a range of direct categories; two of the largest areas of spend areas is in concrete and steel reinforcement
• Complete a full evaluation of tender responses and compile award recommendations for approval, talking account of the total value of ownership
• Carrying out due diligence and commercial checks for supply partners in accordance with business governance
• Negotiation of terms, conditions and prices against tender allowances/targets
• Ensure that project requirements are met and high quality, value for money contracts are negotiated to deliver efficiencies and meet saving targets. Centrally record cost savings/benefits after agreement with project and finance
• Process requisiti on orders and raise Purchase Orders in line with company procedures and delegated levels of authorities
• Understand the ground engineering supplier market, keeping abreast of market developments, demand trends and risks; understand the supply partners market offering in terms of capability and capacity; manage market intelligence to inform procurement strategies
• Establish performance led, long term supplier relationships focusing on value for money, service & product quality and continuous improvement to drive competitive advantage for Balfour Beatty; undertake strategic supplier relationship management (SRM) to improve service delivery and help ensure suppliers deliver contracted outcomes. Manage supplier performance (SPM) using Jaeegaer e-por tal for projects/ contracts. Escalate any ongoing problems
• Provide procurement support for estimating and work winning opportunities for the Business Unit
• Liaise with the work winning and Project teams to assist with the resolution of supply issues as and when required
• Work cross-functionally with all departments to drive and deliver HSQE+S principles and commercial objectives
• Build and maintain strong engagement relationships with internal stakeholders and the supply chain
• Proactively build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in order to identify opportunities to add value and collaborate, to solve business problems
• Support the implementation and delivery of direct business unit and wider group procurement and supply chain initiatives

Who we're looking for

The following experience/qualifications are required: -

• Experience of Oracle R12 and Jaeegaer Bravo would be an advantage
• Highly results orientated (proven track record of exceeding targets)
• Problem solving skills, ability to use own initiative to identify areas of improvement & propose solutions.
• Demonstrates strong written and verbal skills.
• Excellent attention to detail
• Able to prioritise – with support – a challenging workload of competing priorities
• Good understanding of how to run end to end procurement projects from market research, through sourcing, to contract and supplier management
• Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against bid / project milestones
• Experience in negotiating commercial deals and contractual terms and conditions
• Analytical, numerically astute with strong proven problem-solving abilities;
• Flexible and driven
• Strong team player
• Commercially and financially aware with well-developed negotiating skills;
• Strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Thinks creatively and pragmatically to apply commercial good practice to solve business problems
• Able to quickly learn and work with new processes and IT systems
• Customer focussed
• Knowledge of the construction/civils market
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience
• MCIPS / studying towards CIPS / equivalent qualifications or experience

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at [e-mail]