Senior Buyer

Build Recruitment; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK Infrastructure and Civils-based contractor is seeking a Senior Buyer to join their team in Plymouth. The successful candidate will manage procurement processes, lead negotiations, and ensure effective control over procurement strategies while supporting ongoing projects. This role demands strong commercial awareness, proficiency in procurement operations, and excellent communication skills, along with a minimum of three years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in procurement.
• Working towards or holding a CIPS professional qualification.

Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and improve the effectiveness of the buying function.
• Develop tender/project procurement strategies with the project team.
• Lead negotiations with supply chain partners.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Education

CIPS professional qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Senior Buyer

Location: Plymouth, Devon

Salary: Up to £55,000

A leading UK Infrastructure and Civils-based contractor has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Buyer to join their team in the South West. This company has a large project pipeline across the South West and is looking for a Senior Buyer to support procurement during a busy period.

Overall Role:

• Establish, maintain, and improve the control and effectiveness of the buying function in line with company policy and business objectives.
• Develop bid lists and complete due diligence on proposed subcontractors for tender and procurement packages, for approval by the project team and procurement manager.
• Create tender/project procurement strategies in collaboration with the project team, identifying risks and opportunities to obtain the best value.
• Develop and manage the tender/project procurement schedule with the project team.
• Collate tender/subcontract and materials enquiries for assessment by the estimator and site management team.
• Manage the return of quotations, conduct value analysis, and recommend actions for approval.
• Lead negotiations with supply chain partners.
• Arrange and lead supplier/subcontractor meetings, including mid-tender, post-tender, and final negotiations.
• Organise and chair pre-let meetings prior to subcontract awards.
• Ensure internal governance checks are completed, including proper use of documents such as order templates and requisition forms.
• Chair regular project procurement reviews, ensuring completeness of programme dates, tender allowances, order values, and meeting notes/actions.
• Support projects by monitoring subcontractor and supplier performance and mediating supply chain disputes.
• Manage onboarding of new suppliers/subcontractors, including due diligence.

Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in procurement.
• Working towards or holding a CIPS professional qualification.

Technical Skills:

• Sound knowledge of the civils/construction industry and procurement in subcontract and supplier markets.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and bespoke packages.
• Knowledge of various contract forms and extensive understanding of trades and materials in civil engineering.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to manage workload efficiently.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of working under pressure to tight deadlines.

If interested, please contact us confidentially.

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Build Recruitment Limited acts as an employment business for temporary workers and an employment agency for permanent vacancies. We are an equal opportunities employer.