Senior Buyer

DATS Recruitment; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

DATS Recruitment is seeking a Senior Buyer to join the procurement function on a 12-month maternity cover contract. Hybrid role with 2 office days per week across Manchester, Motherwell or London.

You will manage procurement across multiple projects, support sourcing, draft and negotiate NEC contracts, ensure compliance with UK procurement and finance legislation, and collaborate with project teams, consultants and suppliers. SC clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Significant procurement or supply chain experience in construction, engineering, infrastructure, or related industries.
• Strong working knowledge of UK standard NEC4 PSC contracts.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts.
• Good understanding of UK procurement and finance legislation.

Responsibilities

• Managing procurement activities across multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Supporting sourcing strategies, supplier engagement, and contract negotiations.
• Drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts, particularly NEC forms.
• Advising project teams on procurement best practice and contract management.
• Working collaboratively with commercial, planning, and project control teams.
• Supporting supplier performance and supply chain management activities.
• Ensuring compliance with UK procurement and finance legislation.

Skills

Procurement experience

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder engagement

UK procurement legislation

Education

MCIPS qualification (or working towards)

Tools

COINS software

Job description

Senior Buyer – Procurement

Find out if this opportunity is a good fit by reading all of the information that follows below.

Contract – 12 Months maternity cover contract

Location: (Hybrid – 2 days in office required). This role can be based out of a client office in either Manchester, Motherwell, or London.

Rate: £45-53 per hour DOE (Inside IR35/ Umbrella)

Security Clearance: The successful candidate will need to be able to obtain a minimum of SC level clearance which means they will need to be a sole British national due to projects in nuclear and defence.

Start Date: ASAP

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior Buyer to join a well-established procurement and supply chain function on a 12-month maternity cover contract.

This role will support a wide range of complex engineering and infrastructure projects across sectors including Nuclear, Defence, Power, and Life Sciences. The successful candidate will work closely with internal project teams, consultants, contractors, and suppliers to deliver procurement and commercial objectives effectively.

An overlap period with the current incumbent is planned to ensure a smooth handover.

The Role

Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Managing procurement activities across multiple projects and stakeholders
• Supporting sourcing strategies, supplier engagement, and contract negotiations
• Drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts, particularly NEC forms
• Advising project teams on procurement best practice and contract management
• Working collaboratively with commercial, planning, and project control teams
• Supporting supplier performance and supply chain management activities
• Ensuring compliance with UK procurement and finance legislation

Requirements

• Significant experience within procurement or supply chain roles in construction, engineering, infrastructure, or a related industry
• Strong working knowledge of UK standard forms of contract, particularly NEC4 PSC
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts
• Good understanding of UK procurement and finance legislation
• MCIPS qualification (or currently working towards)
• Relevant degree qualification or equivalent industry experience
• Experience using COINS software (desirable)

Additional Information

• Hybrid working arrangement with 3 days from home and 2 office days per week in Manchester/Motherwell/ or London.
• Full right to work in the UK is essential and ability to obtain SC level clearance

If you are an experienced procurement professional looking for your next contract opportunity within a complex project environment, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: Candidates will require existing eligibility to work in the UK to be considered for this role