Group Buyer

Balfour Beatty plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working

Remote options

Annual leave

Pension

Share plan

Volunteering leave

Recognition schemes

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking a Group Buyer to join the Central Procurement team in Canary Wharf. You will lead category management for Corporate and Professional Services and manage end-to-end sourcing activities, negotiating contracts and ensuring supplier performance aligns with SLAs and governance standards.

The role requires an understanding of procurement, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to drive category plans that support the business and sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• CIPS Level 4 qualified and studying towards CIPS Level 5/6 or equivalent
• 3+ years of procurement and supply chain experience
• Experience running end-to-end tenders and sourcing projects
• Experience negotiating in commercial and contractual context
• Experience reviewing and negotiating legal agreements including Terms and Conditions
• Ability to build positive stakeholder relationships and apply SRM skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lead discussions toward decision making
• Knowledge of industry best practices, trends and regulations
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and procurement software tools
• Degree in Procurement or related field preferred
• Strong work ethic and self-driven attitude
• Strategic thinking and ability to drive change
• Evidence-based decision making
• Clear and enthusiastic communication while respecting others
• Autonomous with professionalism and integrity
• Collaborative team contributor

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with stakeholders to drive category plans and provide updates
• Manage end-to-end sourcing activities via eProcurement system
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers
• Implement contract and supplier relationship management with performance metrics
• Develop and monitor a comprehensive category plan aligned with business goals
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with Sustainability team to advance sustainability initiatives

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Decision making

Self-motivation

Teamwork

Time management

Education

Degree in Procurement and Supply Chain

CIPS Level 4 qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

About the role

Our projects are more than just your opportunity to make your mark. They’re an opportunity to stretch, test and develop your expertise. Join Balfour Beatty as a Group Buyer within the Central Procurement team in Canary Wharf, and you’ll deliver complex work that really matters to our business, and the world around you.

Responsible for category management within Corporate and Professional Services, as part of the Indirect Procurement team The role requires an understanding of the industry and related supply chain. The role will work closely with internal stakeholders to identify business requirements, deliver effective procurement activities, support due diligence and appoint suppliers that provide added value aligned with the business’ strategic goals objectives.

What you'll be doing

• Develop strong relationships with all stakeholders to drive the category plan and ensure suitable involvement and support from Procurement. This includes delivering clear communications and proactive updates of relevant activities to all necessary stakeholders.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing activities via our eProcurement system in line with category strategy and stakeholder requirements.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers in accordance with Group procedures and in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Implement robust contract and supplier relationship management processes, with robust metrics and governance to ensure performance meets service level agreements and continuous improvement is driven.
• Develop, implement, communicate, and monitor a comprehensive category plan which complement the strategic goals and objectives of the business unit and wider organisation.
• Ensure the supply chain complies with all legal and regulatory requirements and that their services meet appropriate standards for quality and performance.
• Collaborate with the Procurement Sustainability team to develop initiatives and drive our sustainability agenda.

Who we’re looking for

• CIPS Level 4 qualified and studying towards CIPS Level 5 and 6 or equivalent studies.
• 3+ years of experience in procurement and supply chain management.
• Experience within procurement and category management, in particular running end-to-end tenders and other sourcing projects.
• Experience negotiating in both a commercial and contractual context.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating legal agreements including Terms and Conditions.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with all stakeholders and apply supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to lead and steer discussions towards decision making.
• Strong knowledge of industry best practices, trends, and regulations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and procurement software tools.
• Strong time management skills and ability to set deadlines and meet them accordingly.
• Degree in Procurement and Supply Chain, Business, Economics or related field is preferred.
• Strong work ethic, enthusiastic and self-driven.
• Ability to be self-motivated and take ownership of the category and have a positive impact on the procurement function and wider business.
• The ability to think strategically, seek out opportunities for effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement.
• Effective decision making based on empirical data and evidenced experience.
• Ability to communicate purpose and rationale with clarity and enthusiasm whilst respecting the opinions and needs of others and maintaining strong relationships.
• Autonomous with high degree of professionalism and integrity.
• Collaborates within a positive team environment by sharing knowledge, valuing diverse perspectives, supporting colleagues, and contributing to collective success.

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

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

Diversity and inclusion

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]