Lead Buyer

National Oilwell Varco; Great Yarmouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global oilfield services company is looking for a Lead Buyer to join its Great Yarmouth purchasing team. This role involves overseeing procurement transactions, mentoring staff, and improving supplier performance. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a manufacturing environment and strong skills in negotiation and problem-solving. Opportunities for career progression and personal development are available. Join the team to contribute to operational excellence in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain within a manufacturing or production environment.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
• Proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Great Yarmouth purchasing team.
• Oversee daily procurement transactions including purchase orders and supplier validation.
• Manage direct spend with preferred suppliers.
• Monitor and expedite late purchase orders.
• Evaluate and improve supplier performance.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities.
• Support engineering teams on product changes.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Operational excellence

Job description

Are you an experienced procurement professional ready to take the lead in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment? We’re looking for a Lead Buyer to head our Great Yarmouth purchasing team, driving excellence in supply chain operations and ensuring customer and stakeholder demands are met in line with evolving production priorities.

In this role, you’ll work closely with our Strategic Procurement team to develop and implement sourcing strategies, streamline processes, and deliver tangible efficiencies across the business. You’ll play a key part in strengthening supplier relationships, improving performance, and supporting NOV’s commitment to quality and innovation.

At NOV, we believe that developing our business goes hand in hand with developing our people. With the support of the ISE Procurement Manager, you’ll have opportunities for career progression, continuous learning, and personal development as you work toward both professional and organizational goals.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and mentor the Great Yarmouth purchasing team, fostering a culture of collaboration and professional growth.
• Oversee daily procurement transactions including requisitions, purchase orders, change orders, and supplier validation.
• Manage direct spend with preferred suppliers and elevate exceptions as needed.
• Monitor and expedite late purchase and works orders, working closely with the planning department to resolve issues impacting production schedules.
• Evaluate and improve supplier performance—driving enhancements in delivery, quality, and lead times.
• Identify and deliver cost‑saving opportunities through product, vendor, and design improvements.
• Support engineering teams on product changes and new product introductions affecting manufacturing and supply chain processes.
• Manage invoice payment issues by performing root‑cause analysis and implementing solutions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through proactive planning and vendor development.
• Continuously improve procurement processes, documentation, and performance metrics.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain within a manufacturing or production environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem‑solving abilities.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.

About Us

Every day, the oil and gas industry’s best minds put more than 150 years of experience to work to help our customers achieve lasting success.

We Power the Industry that Powers the World. Throughout every region in the world and across every area of drilling and production, our family of companies has provided the technical expertise, advanced equipment, and operational support necessary for success—now and in the future.

Global Family. We are a global family of thousands of individuals, working as one team to create a lasting impact for ourselves, our customers, and the communities where we live and work.

Purposeful Innovation. Through purposeful business innovation, product creation, and service delivery, we are driven to power the industry that powers the world better.

Service Above All. This drives us to anticipate our customers’ needs and work with them to deliver the finest products and services on time and on budget.

About the Team

Corporate. Our family of companies is supported by our global Corporate teams, providing expert knowledge from functions including Human Resources, Information Technology, Compliance, Finance, QHSE, Marketing and Legal centers of expertise. We are structured to provide guidance and service above all to all our business operations.

Job Info

• Job Identification 38481
• Job Category Procurement
• Posting Date 12/15/2025, 02:23 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Job Shift Day
• Locations Excalibur Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 7RQ, GB