Senior Buyer

Searchability (UK) Ltd; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the defence sector seeks a Senior Buyer to manage procurement for critical programmes. This role offers a salary of up to £55,000 and encourages a hybrid working model. Candidates should possess strong procurement skills and experience in managing supplier performance. The client offers excellent career progression and SC clearance sponsorship.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Excellent career progression

SC clearance sponsorship

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar Buyer / Senior Buyer role.
• Ability to manage supplier delivery against targets.
• Understanding of procurement compliance.

Responsibilities

• Support strategic procurement activities that ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Manage supplier performance and procurement compliance.
• Handle RFQs, tenders, and contract negotiations.

Skills

Strong procurement experience

Indirect and Direct procurement experience

Commercial and negotiation skills

Managing supplier delivery

Understanding of contract management

MS Office proficiency

SAP experience

Job description

Senior Buyer

• Up to 55,000 salary with hybrid working
• 4-day working week (Monday to Thursday)
• SC clearance required - work on high-impact national programmes
• Based near Bedford with excellent career growth and variety

ABOUT THE CLIENT:

Our client is a key player in the defence and national security sector, delivering complex engineering and manufacturing solutions to high-profile UK and international programmes. With a reputation for technical excellence and a people-first culture, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation offering genuine work-life balance. Due to continued expansion across multiple projects, we are looking for a Senior Buyer to support activity across all stages of the product lifecycle.

THE BENEFITS:

• Up to 55,000 salary
• Hybrid working on-site near Bedford; 50/50 split
• SC clearance sponsorship available
• Excellent progression and career development

THE SENIOR BUYER ROLE:

You'll support strategic procurement activities across a broad range of engineering and operational categories. This will include managing supplier delivery for critical defence programmes and ensuring procurement is efficient, compliant and cost-effective. Working across both Direct (e.g. PCB, cables, components) and Indirect (e.g. CAPEX, services, facilities) procurement, you'll handle everything from RFQs and tenders to contract negotiation and supplier performance management.

SENIOR BUYER ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Strong procurement experience within a similar Buyer / Senior Buyer / Procurement Officer role
• A blend of Indirect and Direct procurement experience
• Understanding of build-to-print, COTS and MOTs procurement
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills
• Able to manage supplier delivery against technical, cost and schedule targets
• Confident working cross-functionally with engineering, quality and operations teams
• Understanding of contract management, risk, and compliance
• Proficiency in MS Office - SAP experience is a bonus
• Must be eligible for SC clearance

TO BE CONSIDERED:

Please either apply through this advert or email me directly via (url removed). For further information please call me: (phone number removed) / (phone number removed). By applying for this role, you give express consent for us to process and submit (subject to required skills) your application to our client in conjunction with this vacancy only.

KEY SKILLS:
Senior Buyer, Procurement, Supply Chain, Indirect Buying, Direct Procurement, Defence, COTS, MOTs, Build to Print, Contract Management, SAP, SC Clearance, NSD