Buyer (24-Month FTC)

Northern Powergrid; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Flexi-Time

Job summary

Northern Powergrid is seeking a Buyer to join its Commercial team in Sunderland, supporting day-to-day procurement activity and managing a portfolio worth roughly £20 million annually.

The role reports to the Procurement Manager and involves sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial analysis across various categories as the company invests in resilience, decarbonisation and Oracle Cloud transformation.

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level standard (or equivalent), with a minimum of 2-A Levels.
• Good data and Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and progress procurement activity to agreed timescales.
• Confidence working within structured governance and procurement processes.
• Good stakeholder-management skills and the confidence to ask questions and constructively challenge requirements.
• Experience managing or supporting procurement activity for goods, services, components or technical products.
• Good commercial awareness and experience working with spend portfolios, contracts or supplier agreements.
• Experience preparing tender documentation, completing commercial evaluations and supporting negotiations.
• The ability to interpret business requirements and, where relevant, technical specifications.
• Strong attention to detail and high standards of written communication.
• Experience producing recommendation papers, business cases or approval documentation.
• Experience using Oracle or another enterprise resource planning or procurement system would be beneficial, although training and project support will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Managing sourcing activity from initial business requirement through to contract award.
• Preparing tender documentation, evaluating supplier submissions and supporting commercial negotiations.
• Establishing and maintaining procurement agreements that deliver value, quality and security of supply.
• Working with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and develop appropriate procurement solutions.
• Managing supplier relationships and supporting the resolution of commercial or performance issues.
• Producing recommendation papers, approval documentation and clear commercial analysis.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant policies, governance and approval processes.
• Supporting Procurement's ongoing operational delivery while colleagues contribute to the Oracle Cloud transformation programme.
• Assisting with the implementation of updated procurement processes, controls and ways of working arising from the Oracle Cloud programme.
• Supporting procurement data quality and record management activities to help ensure a successful transition to Oracle Cloud.
• Practical procurement experience
• Commercial judgement
• Ability to manage a diverse workload
• Comfortable building relationships with stakeholders and suppliers
• Ability to take ownership of procurement activities
• Ability to deliver robust commercial outcomes

Skills

Data analysis

Microsoft 365 Excel

Stakeholder management

Procurement experience

Commercial judgment

Ability to manage diverse workload

Relationship building with suppliers

Procurement ownership

Commercial outcomes

Education

A Levels (minimum)

Tools

Oracle

Job description

We’re looking for a Buyer to join Northern Powergrid’s Commercial team, supporting day-to-day procurement activity.

Northern Powergrid powers everyday life for around 8 million customers across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. As we continue to invest in network resilience, decarbonisation and the infrastructure needed for a low-carbon future, Procurement has an important role in securing the goods and services needed to deliver our plans.

Along with a competitive salary of between £35,546 - £41,059 we also offer;

• 25 days holiday
• Flexi-Time

This is an opportunity to manage your own procurement portfolio and gain exposure to a broad range of sourcing, supplier management and contract activities. By supporting the day-to-day operation of the Procurement function, you'll help ensure business priorities continue to be delivered while experienced colleagues focus on the Oracle Cloud transformation programme.

Reporting to the Procurement Manager, you’ll manage a portfolio of goods and services spend worth approximately £20 million annually, supporting sourcing activity and supplier relationships across a range of operational and infrastructure-related categories.

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing sourcing activity from initial business requirement through to contract award.
• Preparing tender documentation, evaluating supplier submissions and supporting commercial negotiations.
• Establishing and maintaining procurement agreements that deliver value, quality and security of supply.
• Working with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and develop appropriate procurement solutions.
• Managing supplier relationships and supporting the resolution of commercial or performance issues.
• Producing recommendation papers, approval documentation and clear commercial analysis.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant policies, governance and approval processes.
• Supporting Procurement's ongoing operational delivery while colleagues contribute to the Oracle Cloud transformation programme.
• Assisting with the implementation of updated procurement processes, controls and ways of working arising from the Oracle Cloud programme.
• Supporting procurement data quality and record management activities to help ensure a successful transition to Oracle Cloud.
• Practical procurement experience
• Commercial judgement
• Ability to manage a diverse workload
• Comfortable building relationships with stakeholders and suppliers
• Ability to take ownership of procurement activities
• Ability to deliver robust commercial outcomes

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to A Level standard (or equivalent), with a minimum of 2-A Levels.
• Good data and Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and progress procurement activity to agreed timescales.
• Confidence working within structured governance and procurement processes.
• Good stakeholder-management skills and the confidence to ask questions and constructively challenge requirements.
• Experience managing or supporting procurement activity for goods, services, components or technical products.
• Good commercial awareness and experience working with spend portfolios, contracts or supplier agreements.
• Experience preparing tender documentation, completing commercial evaluations and supporting negotiations.
• The ability to interpret business requirements and, where relevant, technical specifications.
• Strong attention to detail and high standards of written communication.
• Experience producing recommendation papers, business cases or approval documentation.
• Experience using Oracle or another enterprise resource planning or procurement system would be beneficial, although training and project support will be provided.

Additional Information

The successful candidate’s appointment is subject to a satisfactory credit check

Posted: 16/09/26

Closing date for applications: 02/10/26

Location: Sunderland

Applicants are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post irrespective of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender re‑assignment, race, age or disability, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Equality Act 2010.

We reserve the right to close this advert early depending on applications.