Buyer

Balfour Beatty plc; Motherwell; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking a Buyer in Maxim to own end-to-end sourcing for subcontract services, materials, plant and equipment, primarily supporting the Regional Scotland business. You will collaborate with project, estimating and supply chain teams to deliver effective procurement solutions and drive savings.

The role involves tenders, supplier evaluations, due diligence and maintaining strong relationships with external partners, with a focus on value for money and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification or demonstrable relevant experience.
• MCIPS, working towards CIPS membership, or an equivalent procurement qualification/level of experience.
• Experience of end-to-end procurement processes and supplier management.
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements, pricing and terms.

Responsibilities

• Take a proactive and efficient approach to the procurement of subcontract services.
• Manage competitive tendering activities, including RFIs and RFOs, using digital systems.
• Evaluate tender submissions and prepare robust award recommendations.
• Negotiate commercial terms, conditions and pricing against tender allowances and targets.
• Record and track procurement savings and benefits with project and finance teams.
• Develop a strong understanding of the Ground Engineering supplier market and monitor market developments.
• Build long-term, performance-led supplier relationships focused on value for money and continuous improvement.
• Provide procurement support to estimating, work-winning and project teams to resolve supply chain challenges.

Skills

End-to-end procurement

Negotiation

Commercial & financial awareness

Analytical skills

MS Office

Customer-focused

Collaborative

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification

MCIPS or working towards CIPS

Tools

Oracle R12

Jaggaer Bravo

Job description

About the role

Amazing infrastructure isn’t the only thing that gets built here. Incredible careers do too. Join our Regional Scotland team as a Buyer in Maxim, and build something to be proud of.

As part of our Procurement team, you’ll take ownership of the end-to-end sourcing and procurement process for subcontracts, materials, plant and equipment, primarily supporting our Regional Scotland business.

You’ll work closely with project, estimating and supply chain teams to deliver effective procurement solutions, build strong supplier relationships and continually improve supply chain performance.

Your responsibilities will include tenders and obtaining quotes, evaluating commercial submissions, making recommendations for contract awards, and ensuring compliance to internal policies and procedures.You’ll also analyse procurement and market information, contribute to management reporting and work with key suppliers to monitor and improve performance.

A key part of the role will be strengthening our existing supply chain, identifying and developing relationships with new suppliers where appropriate, and encouraging a collaborative approach between our internal teams and supply chain partners.

What you'll be doing

• Take a proactive and efficient approach to the procurement of subcontract services.
• Manage competitive tendering activities, including requests for information (RFIs) and requests for quotations (RFOs), using digital systems.
• Evaluate tender submissions and prepare robust award recommendations, considering overall value and total cost of ownership.
• Undertake appropriate due diligence and commercial checks on supply chain partners in line with business governance requirements.
• Negotiate commercial terms, conditions and pricing against agreed tender allowances and targets.
• Secure high-quality, value-for-money contracts that meet project requirements, deliver efficiencies and support agreed savings targets.
• Record and track procurement savings and benefits in collaboration with project and finance teams.
• Process requisitions and raise Purchase Orders in accordance with company procedures and delegated authority levels.
• Develop a strong understanding of the Ground Engineering supplier market, monitoring market developments, demand, risk, supplier capability and capacity to inform procurement strategies.
• Build long-term, performance-led supplier relationships focused on value for money, service, quality and continuous improvement.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, addressing and escalating ongoing issues where required.
• Provide procurement support to estimating, work-winning and project teams, helping to resolve supply chain challenges and identify opportunities.
• Work collaboratively across the business and supply chain to support HSQE+S and commercial objectives.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and supply chain partners, identifying opportunities to collaborate, add value and solve business challenges.
• Support the implementation of Business Unit and Group-wide procurement and supply chain initiatives.
• Facilitate meetings and engagement sessions with internal stakeholders and external supply chain partners.
• Produce and analyse procurement management information, including spend reports and monthly dashboards, to strengthen business intelligence and support effective decision-making.
• Promote and maximise the use of Group procurement agreements where appropriate.
• Work in accordance with Balfour Beatty policies, governance requirements and professional best practice, demonstrating an ethical, safe and professional approach at all times.

Who we're looking for

• A strong understanding of end-to-end procurement, from market research and sourcing through to contract award and supplier management.
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements, pricing and contractual terms and conditions.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, demonstrating negotiation and influencing skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of the construction and/or civil engineering supply chain and market.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to identify issues, evaluate information and develop practical solutions.
• Excellent attention to detail, and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• The confidence to use your own initiative, identify opportunities for improvement and propose effective solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across teams and with suppliers.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team.
• A flexible, proactive and customer-focused approach.
• The ability to learn and adapt quickly to new processes, systems and ways of working.
• A relevant degree, equivalent qualification or demonstrable relevant experience.
• MCIPS, working towards CIPS membership, or an equivalent procurement qualification/level of experience.

Experience of ERP and tending systems such as Oracle R12 and Jaggaer Bravo would be advantageous.

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.

Why join us?

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

From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on.

We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities.

Our award-winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland’s transition towards net zero in the built environment.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]