(Junior) Buyer

RWE; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Ownership and accountability

Flexible working hours

Training budget

Work-life balance

Job summary

RWE Generation UK is seeking a (Junior) Buyer to join its international procurement team. You will handle end-to-end purchasing of direct materials, identify suppliers, negotiate terms, and drive process improvements across UK operations.

The role offers exposure to mechanical and electrical consumables, collaboration with warehouse and engineering teams, and opportunities to participate in cross-border projects. English fluency is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s level of working and thinking, completed commercial education or similar qualification in procurement, with several years of experience as a buyer in a technical environment.
• We also accept graduates for this position.
• Knowledge and experience in drafting and managing procurement contracts, and affinity with the legal aspects of contracting.
• Strong negotiation skills, a structured way of thinking, excellent communication skills and solid analytical capabilities.
• Ability to manage conflicts with a clear, solution oriented mindset.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• Experience working with SAP S/4HANA & preferably also SAP Ariba.

Responsibilities

• Operational and tactical purchasing: procuring direct materials in line with company policies and legal requirements, from request through to purchase order and/or contract.
• Responsible for products groups within mechanical and electrical consumables.
• Ensuring on time delivery of ordered materials.
• Handling order confirmations, complaints, invoice clarification (workflow handling), as well as master data and contract data maintenance.
• Maintaining supplier relationships and identifying potential suppliers to expand and/or optimise the supplier base.
• Working closely with internal departments to align procurement needs and requirements.
• Participation in interdisciplinary and international project work, representing the interests of Procurement in multifunctional teams.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree (procurement)

Commercial education

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP Ariba

Job description

RWE Generation UK

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

The materials procurement team of RWE Generation is an international team with four buyers in the UK, three buyers in the Netherlands and two additional teams in Germany. We are responsible for supplying our power stations and other assets with direct materials in these three countries.

As a (Junior) Buyer, you play a central role in the end-to-end procurement process. In this role you have an attractive mix of operational activities. You identify potential suppliers, negotiate terms and pricing, and manage key supplier relationships. In addition, you are responsible for the continuous improvement and automation of our purchasing processes and contractmanagement.

Your base location can be at any power station within UK.

About The Role

• Operational and tactical purchasing: procuring direct materials in line with company policies and legal requirements, from request through to purchase order and/or contract.
• Responsible for products groups within mechanical and electrical consumables.
• Ensuring on time delivery of ordered materials.
• Handling order confirmations, complaints, invoice clarification (workflow handling), as well as master data and contract data maintenance.
• Maintaining supplier relationships and identifying potential suppliers to expand and/or optimise the supplier base.
• Working closely with internal departments (including warehouse/materials management and engineering) to align procurement needs and requirements.
• Participation in interdisciplinary and international project work, representing the interests of Procurement in multifunctional teams.

Job Requirements And Experience

• Bachelor’s level of working and thinking, completed commercial education or similar qualification in procurement, with several years of experience as a buyer in a technical (production) environment.
• We also accept graduates for this position.
• Knowledge and experience in drafting and managing procurement contracts, and demonstrable affinity with the legal aspects of contracting.
• Strong negotiation skills, a structured way of thinking, excellent communication skills and solid analytical capabilities.
• Ability to manage conflicts with a clear, solution oriented mindset.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• Experience working with SAP S/4HANA & preferably also SAP Ariba.

Advantageous, But Not Essential

• German language skills.

RWE is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment - we value your passion, your willingness to learn and your desire to thrive. Even if you don't have all the above skills, need flexible working arrangements or other adjustments not yet listed here, we'd love to hear from you.

Your Benefits

• Extensive career and development opportunities within the (international) RWE organisation.
• An interesting and broad range of responsibilities with a high degree of ownership and room for your own ideas in a dynamic environment.
• A culture of trust and performance supported by open feedback and communication.
• Flexible working hours with the possibility to work outside the office (e.g. on site or from home).
• Opportunities for further development through a personal training and development budget.
• Strong focus on work life balance, with flexible working options and the possibility to buy or sell additional leave days.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity.

RWE Generation provides a flexible mix for a powerful future. With a team of around 3,500 employees, the company operates flexible gas power plants, bioenergy facilities, and hydropower stations in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Turkey. These assets play a vital role in balancing the supply of renewable energy during periods of fluctuation, thereby ensuring the stability of the power grid. Recognising the importance of energy storage, RWE Generation is integrating battery systems into its operations and pioneering hydrogen-powered technologies - an essential element for storing renewable energy for when it is needed most. As a long-standing partner for the regions in which we operate, our reliable, clean and flexible assets enable us to play a key role in decarbonising the energy system. Our team continues to be inventive, using their experience, talent and sunrise technologies to be the cornerstone our society can rely on.