Lead Buyer

Millbank; Wilmslow; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Millbank Holdings Ltd is seeking a Lead Buyer to own procurement strategy and delivery for major work packages within a regulated sector. You will lead end-to-end procurement, run tenders, evaluate bids and manage supplier performance to support a long-term programme.

The role requires extensive experience in NEC contracts, complex negotiations and cross-functional stakeholder management, with a strong focus on governance and audit readiness.

Qualifications

• Experience leading end-to-end procurement and supply chain on major projects in regulated sectors.
• Proven ability to develop procurement strategies, schedules, bidder lists and package plans.
• Extensive experience producing RFQs/ITTs, tender packs, evaluation criteria and reports.
• Strong track record in tenders, clarifications, negotiations and subcontract awards.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts and relevant subcontract forms.
• Ability to assess supplier capability, safety, quality, delivery performance.
• Experience in EPC/EPCM framework environments.
• Strong cross-functional stakeholder management across engineering, construction, commercial, project controls, finance, legal and H&S.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and supply chain activity across major work packages to support programme delivery with strong planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Drive procurement strategy, run tender processes, ensure compliance and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Proactively manage supplier performance, risks and opportunities and provide commercial governance.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategy

Negotiation

Regulated industry experience

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Job description

Are you a proven Lead Buyer with experience delivering procurement strategy, tendering and subcontract awards within the nuclear sector (or similarly regulated, safety-critical industries)?

Can you confidently lead end-to-end procurement for complex packages — from market engagement and ITT/RFQ creation through evaluation, negotiation, governance approval and supplier performance management?

This is a high-impact opportunity to take ownership of critical procurement activity on a major, long-term programme — driving certainty, reducing risk and securing the right supply chain partners. If you’re looking for challenge, autonomy and real influence, read on and apply today.

The Opportunity

Join a project environment where procurement is treated as a key delivery function — valued at senior level, closely aligned with project controls and commercial teams, and expected to positively shape outcomes. You’ll be part of a collaborative culture that prizes high standards, robust governance, continuous improvement, and doing things the right way in a regulated setting — with genuine scope to make your mark.

The Role

As Lead Buyer, you’ll lead procurement and supply chain activity across major work packages, supporting successful programme delivery through strong planning, stakeholder management and supplier engagement. Day to day, you’ll be responsible for driving procurement strategy, running tender processes, ensuring compliance, and maintaining audit-ready documentation — while proactively managing supplier performance, risks and opportunities.

You will have the following qualifications & experience

• Proven experience leading end-to-end procurement and supply chain activity for major projects/programmes within nuclear or a similarly regulated sector (e.g., defence, energy, infrastructure).
• Expert capability developing procurement strategies, procurement schedules, bidder lists and package plans.
• Extensive experience producing RFQs/ITTs, tender packs, evaluation criteria, clarification logs and recommendation reports.
• Strong track record leading tender evaluations, commercial clarifications, negotiations and subcontract award recommendations.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC contracts and relevant subcontract forms, with confident commercial judgement.
• Proven ability to assess supplier capability, capacity, financial standing, safety, quality, sustainability and delivery performance.
• Experience operating within EPC/EPCM/framework/programme delivery environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, working effectively across engineering, construction, commercial, project controls, finance, legal, quality and H&S.
• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., Procurement, Supply Chain, Commercial Management, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Law, Engineering, Finance), with a relevant professional procurement/commercial credential desirable.

Millbank Holdings Ltd is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background, and encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, and we are committed to ensuring an accessible and supportive recruitment process for everyone. If you require any adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.