Senior Buyer

Riverside; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous pension

28 days holidays plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Learning & development opportunities

Wide range of benefits

Job summary

Riverside is seeking a Senior Buyer to manage material procurement for residential developments across Speke, Liverpool. You will ensure competitive procurement aligned with cost plans, budgets and programme while maintaining high standards of health and safety.

The role requires strong negotiation with suppliers and deep knowledge of UK housebuilding supply chains. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in negotiating commercial agreements, managing supplier relationships, and

Qualifications

• Significant buying experience in UK housebuilding/construction.
• Strong knowledge of residential building materials and supply chains.
• Proven track record of negotiating commercial agreements and achieving cost savings.
• Excellent supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of construction contracts.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and procurement systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and government regulations.
• Degree level or equivalent in a related discipline.
• Experience of managing budgets, commercial reporting and negotiation.
• Results driven with the ability to manage conflicting stakeholder priorities.
• Proactive approach and flexible work style.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with development team to balance cost, programme, quality, customer satisfaction and safety.
• Support land acquisition and pre-construction teams with budget pricing during pre-development.
• Produce material schedules per house type and liaise with Design Manager and Estimator.
• Review material expenditure and ensure compliance with cost plans and budgets.
• Assist in negotiating material framework agreements and access group buying where possible.
• Prepare procurement schedules and place orders in line with programme and tender results.
• Monitor market trends and supplier performance to mitigate supply risks.
• Attend site meetings and communicate cost issues to the team.

Skills

Buying experience

Residential materials

Supplier negotiation

Supplier relationships

Budget awareness

Education

Degree level

Tools

Excel

Procurement systems

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Buyer

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £50,068 (plus £3,600 car allowance) per annum

Working Hours: Full Time 37.5 Hours

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Location: Speke, Liverpool

Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

About you

We are looking for someone with

• Significant buying experience within the UK housebuilding or construction industry.
• Strong knowledge of residential building materials and supply chains
• Proven track record of negotiating commercial agreements and achieving cost savings.
• Excellent supplier relationship management skills

The difference you will make as a Senior Buyer

To manage the supply chain in respect of material procurement and plant required for residential developments. Ensuring materials are competitively procured to budget, programme, and specification. Thereby contributing to effective operational delivery of housebuilding operations.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we're a housing association with a difference - enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we've been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you'll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview.

This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.

Role Profile

• Collaborate with other members of the development team to ensure that the interests of the business and customers are always considered in all decisions. Challenge bad behaviours in a constructive manner that do not align to this culture. Ensure that matters of cost are always considered and communicated to the development team. But not to the detriment of balancing programme, quality, customer satisfaction, and health and safety
• During the pre-development phase of a project, support land acquisition and pre-construction teams with budget pricing and contribute effectively to meetings ensuring that cost considerations are highlighted and communicated to the development team.
• Produce schedules of materials per house type from the core range of house types. Liaise with the Design Manager, Estimator and Head of Commercial on queries, or on suggested improvements to minimise waste and reduce cost.
• Liaise with the Estimator, Senior Quantity Surveyor and Head of Commercial on bible build costs. Ensure that details of material expenditure on live or recently completed developments is accurate. Anomalies on wastage or development specific specification costs should be clearly identified.
• Review the standard materials specification at regular intervals in conjunction with the Design Manager, Estimator, Senior Quantity Surveyor and the Senior Management Team.
• Assist Head of Commercial with negotiating material framework agreements and establish rebate arrangements to reduce standard costs and maximise profitability. Negotiate competitive rates for best value and ensure that a cost benefit exercise is undertaken when considering products. Cost reduction should be a key consideration but not to the detriment of balancing programme, quality, customer satisfaction, and health and safety. Liaise with riverside's group procurement team to identify any existing group buying arrangements that could be accessed if suitable.
• Assist with the production of site start budgets ensuring material allowances are in line with cost plan allowances. Maximise profitability and where required assist with value engineering to ensure developments remain viable but without compromising build quality and health and safety.
• Prepare tenders for materials ensuring information and tender inclusions are accurate and appropriate to the development. Undertake a detailed review of tender returns to ensure that materials are procured in line with cost plan allowances and site start budgets. Ensure all material suppliers are compliant with company policies and possess the required health and safety and environmental accreditations and insurances. Where new material suppliers are identified ensure they are set up on our system following process.
• Assist in preparing procurement schedules and package strategies and place orders with material suppliers in line with programme following the above tender process. Where variation orders are required from site process these in a timely manner. Ensure accurate records are kept and that the development Quantity Surveyor and Site Manager are informed of material order arrangements.
• Carryout regular monitoring and report on market trends, inflation, and availability of materials via supplier evaluation to mitigate supply risks.
• Attend site regularly in addition to the monthly development team meetings. Deal with queries raised about materials and ensure that cost issues relating to materials are discussed and resolved. Contribute towards the risk register where applicable liaising with the wider development team.
• Ensure that material invoices received are reviewed for accuracy and payment raised accordingly in line with order terms. Deal with any payment queries raised by material suppliers in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the cost to complete reporting process liaising with the development Quantity Surveyor on material costs and allowances. Undertake a material on site reconciliation as part of this process in conjunction with the development Quantity Surveyor.
• Negotiate material price increases with supply chain to minimise cost increases. Where required procure new material suppliers and raise orders without impacting build programme. Liaise with the Senior Quantity Surveyor and the Head of Commercial on renegotiation of rates or issues affecting material framework arrangements.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with the material supply chain. Keep up to date on key developments in the supply chain including any forecast price increases or availability constraints.
• Evaluate supplier performance through regular reviews and KPI monitoring and ensure suppliers comply with contractual obligations, quality standards, and health and safety requirements.
• Share market intelligence and procurement best practices across the business.
• Contribute to the development of procurement strategies and continuous improvement initiatives
• Provide support to customer care on the provision of materials associated with repairs.
• Undertake any other duties deemed required by the Head of Commercial to ensure the effective operation of the business.

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Significant buying experience within the UK housebuilding or construction industry.
• Strong knowledge of residential building materials and supply chains
• Proven track record of negotiating commercial agreements and achieving cost savings.
• Excellent supplier relationship management skills
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of construction contracts
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and procurement systems
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and government regulations.
• Degree level or equivalent in a related discipline.
• Experience of managing budgets, commercial reporting, negotiation
• Results driven with the ability to manage conflicting stakeholder priorities.
• Proactive approach with the capability to work flexibly and adapt to situations.

Desirable

• Experience with national and regional supplier agreements
• Knowledge of timber frame, masonry, or mixed-tenure housing developments
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Membership of a relevant professional organisation.

About Us

Riverside is one of the UK's leading not-for-profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.