Senior Buyer

Laing O'Rourke group; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Travel & mobility support

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking a Senior Buyer for Sizewell C at Orwell Logistics Park, Ipswich, with hybrid working. You will lead end-to-end procurement for complex subcontract and materials packages across one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects.

You\'ll collaborate with commercial, engineering and supply chain teams to secure best value, manage risk, and deliver project requirements, while supporting local supplier engagement and sustainable procurement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing procurement in construction/civil engineering or major infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver procurement strategies for high-value packages.
• Strong end-to-end procurement knowledge: tendering, evaluation, negotiation, contract award.
• Experience in supplier relationship management and commercial negotiations.
• Understanding of contract law, governance and commercial principles.
• Experience in risk and opportunity management, supply chain planning and logistics.

Responsibilities

• Develop procurement strategies for high-value subcontract and materials packages.
• Manage end-to-end procurement processes: RFQs, ITTs, tender evaluation, contract awards.
• Coordinate tender reviews with HSE, engineering, quality and planning teams.
• Negotiate contracts and assess supplier performance and track records.
• Prepare sourcing recommendations and obtain approvals for awards.
• Draft and manage contracts per project procedures and governance.

Skills

Procurement management

Category strategy

Tendering & ITTs

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

MCIPS or working towards chartership

Degree or Level 4 Diploma/HNC

Tools

N/A

Job description

Senior Buyer - SZC.

Location: Orwell Logistics Park, Ipswich
Hybrid working available | Travel & mobility support options available

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes – Sizewell C – a once-in-a-generation clean energy project that will help power over 6 million homes for decades to come.

Working within the Civil Works Alliance (a partnership between Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O'Rourke), you'll play a key role in managing end-to-end procurement activities across one of Europe's largest infrastructure projects.

As a Senior Buyer, you'll take ownership of procurement activities for complex and high-value subcontract and materials packages, developing sourcing strategies and managing the tender process from initial enquiry through to contract award. Working closely with commercial, engineering, construction and supply chain teams, you'll help secure best value, manage procurement risks and ensure the successful delivery of project requirements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing and delivering procurement strategies for project-wide and high-value subcontract and materials packages
• Managing the end-to-end procurement process, including preparation and issue of RFQs and ITTs, tender evaluation and contract award recommendations
• Leading the coordination of commercial and technical tender reviews, engaging with specialist teams including HSE, engineering, quality, commercial, planning and logistics
• Working closely with commercial teams to negotiate contracts and assess supplier commercial performance and track records
• Preparing robust sourcing recommendations and securing formal approvals for contract awards
• Drafting, issuing and managing contracts in accordance with project procurement procedures and governance requirements
• Building and maintaining supplier relationships, monitoring supply chain performance and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Supporting the development of the project supplier database, including market assessments, prequalification and supplier engagement
• Supporting local, diverse and SME supply chain engagement, including Meet the Buyer events and community initiatives
• Contributing to the Local Sustainable Procurement Plan and wider responsible procurement objectives
• Ensuring procurement activities comply with relevant legislation, nuclear regulations and professional standards
• Producing procurement performance information and reporting to support project delivery

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience managing complex procurement processes within construction, civil engineering or major infrastructure projects
• Proven experience developing and delivering category or procurement package strategies
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end procurement processes, including tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract award
• Experience managing supplier relationships and negotiating commercial agreements
• Understanding of contract law, procurement governance and commercial principles
• Strong experience in risk and opportunity management, supply chain planning and logistics
• Excellent analytical skills, commercial awareness and attention to detail
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams
• A pragmatic but disciplined approach to procurement processes, with a focus on securing best value
• MCIPS qualification or working towards chartership would be advantageous
• A relevant industry qualification, such as a Level 4 Diploma, HNC or degree, would be beneficial
• Experience within nuclear or other highly regulated environments would be advantageous but is not essential

Why Join Us?

• Be part of one of the UK's largest and most complex infrastructure projects
• Take ownership of significant procurement packages on a nationally important programme
• Work within a collaborative alliance environment alongside industry-leading organisations
• Influence procurement strategies and build relationships with major suppliers and subcontractors
• Support local businesses, SMEs and sustainable supply chain initiatives
• Long-term career opportunities within a major programme of works
• Competitive salary, benefits and hybrid working arrangements

Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.

About us:
We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]

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