Senior Buyer

Nicholas Associates Group; Bedford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicholas Associates Group in Bedford is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to lead procurement across multiple residential groundworks and civil projects. You will source materials, plant, and subcontract services, negotiate terms, and manage supplier relationships to support on-time, cost-effective project delivery.

Working closely with Commercial Managers, Quantity Surveyors and Site Teams, you will drive procurement programmes, monitor market trends, maintain records and ensure compliance

Qualifications

• Experience as Buyer or Senior Buyer in construction or civil engineering.
• Procured materials/services for residential groundworks, infrastructure or wider civil work.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Good commercial awareness and cost management capability.
• Able to manage multiple projects and procurement packages simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational and IT skills.
• Experience with residential groundworks contractors.
• Knowledge of housebuilding infrastructure and groundwork packages.
• Existing supplier network within construction or civil engineering.

Responsibilities

• Procuring construction materials, plant, and subcontract services for multiple projects.
• Obtaining competitive quotations and negotiating terms.
• Managing supplier and subcontractor relationships.
• Preparing and issuing purchase orders.
• Monitoring market trends and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Working with commercial and operational teams to meet procurement programmes.
• Managing supplier performance, quality and delivery standards.
• Supporting tender and pre-construction with procurement input.
• Maintaining procurement records and reporting.
• Ensuring compliance with procurement procedures and commercial objectives.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Commercial awareness

Cost management

Multi-project management

Communication

IT skills

Residential groundworks knowledge

Job description

Our client is a well-established residential groundworks and civil engineering contractor delivering infrastructure, roads, drainage, foundations, and associated works for leading national and regional housebuilders.

Due to continued growth and an expanding project portfolio, they are looking to appoint an experienced Senior Buyer to strengthen their commercial and procurement team based in Bedford.

The Role

As Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for leading procurement activities across multiple residential groundworks projects, ensuring materials, plant, and subcontract services are sourced competitively and delivered in line with project requirements.
Working closely with Commercial Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Contracts Managers, and Site Teams, you will play a key role in managing supplier relationships, controlling costs, and supporting successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Procuring construction materials, plant, and subcontract services for multiple projects.
• Obtaining competitive quotations and negotiating the best commercial terms.
• Managing supplier and subcontractor relationships.
• Preparing and issuing purchase orders.
• Monitoring market trends and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Working closely with commercial and operational teams to ensure procurement programmes are achieved.
• Managing supplier performance, quality, and delivery standards.
• Supporting tender and pre-construction activities with procurement input.
• Maintaining accurate procurement records and reporting.
• Ensuring compliance with company procurement procedures and commercial objectives.

Requirements

We are keen to speak with candidates who possess:

• Previous experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within the construction or civil engineering sector.
• Experience procuring materials and services for residential groundworks, infrastructure, roads, drainage, or wider civil engineering projects.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Good commercial awareness and cost management capability.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and procurement packages simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational and IT skills.
• Experience working for a residential groundworks contractor.
• Knowledge of housebuilding infrastructure and groundwork packages.
• Existing supplier network within the construction or civil engineering sector.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Long-term career progression opportunities.
• Secure pipeline of residential infrastructure and groundworks projects.
• Supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Opportunity to play a key role within a growing and successful business.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies Privacy Notice.

For more information on this vacancy please contact uson 07856924462.