Senior Buyer

ShelterBox; Truro; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization is seeking a proactive Senior Buyer to enhance their procurement team in Truro. This role involves managing a variety of indirect spend, conducting market research, and negotiating favorable contracts to support essential organizational needs. Candidates should possess proven procurement experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to handle multiple tasks under pressure. This position offers a hybrid working model, with opportunities for remote work.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Senior Procurement Role is necessary.
• Comfortable with numbers and data analysis.
• Ability to develop and maintain internal and external relationships.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research and supplier due diligence.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier relationships.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities.

Skills

Proven procurement experience

Attention to detail

Excellent communication skills

Ability to manage multiple tasks

Data analysis proficiency

Education

CIP qualification (desirable)

Job description

Grade: 3

Position type: Permanent, Full time, 37.5 hours per week, flexible hours considered

Responsible to: Procurement Manager

Direct reports: None

Location: Truro, Cornwall (hybrid) or Remote (UK only - with required travel to HQ up to 4 times a year)

Role purpose:

The Procurement team is crucial to ensuring ShelterBox is equipped with the supply infrastructure we need to work, fundraise, budget, manage data and ultimately deliver vital aid. In addition to working on Indirect Items, the Procurement Team is a skills resource for the rest of the business, identifying and supporting with best practice in procurement and negotiations at all levels.

The Senior Buyer will join a busy and dynamic Procurement team of three individuals (two Senior Buyers and the Procurement Manager) and will quickly become integral to the day-to-day running of the Procurement function. It is expected that the individual will have substantial procurement experience.

The Senior Buyer will be responsible for a variety of Indirect spend and suppliers. Additionally, the Senior Buyer will support the Supply Chain team and the rest of the organisation as a subject matter expert on negotiation and procurement activities.

Who are we looking for?

ShelterBox is seeking a proactive individual with proven procurement experience to add capacity to the team. Attention to detail and diligence will be at the forefront of your skillset and you'll need to be comfortable with numbers, data and sensitively posing challenging questions to understand business requirements.

We are looking for someone with excellent communications skills and the ability to balance multiple tasks with competing deadlines. The individual should be confident with developing and maintaining relationships both internally with other departments and externally with suppliers and partners.

This role would suit someone currently in a Senior Procurement Role who is looking to expand their responsibilities and skillset. CIPs qualification is desirable. Charity experience is appreciated, but we welcome applicants with appropriate experience in any sector.

Job Description

Main role and responsibilities:

Ensure effective procurement of goods, services and works by conducting market research, performing supplier due diligence, implementing rigorous contracting procedures, managing contracts, negotiating favourable terms, identifying cost‑saving opportunities, and preparing and maintaining documentation to guarantee best value, efficiency, and accountability to both donors and recipients.

Handling a variety of stakeholders and manage expectations as well as delivering on promised outcomes.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Management of a broad range of categories across the organisation, focussing predominantly on indirect, non-stock purchases.
• Work with Senior Management to identify procurement improvement priorities by analysing forecast spend, supply markets and specification options.
• Design, plan and lead the tender process for a variety of buying categories up to a contract value of £2m.
• Contribute to the specification-writing process, leading to formal technical, performance and supply specifications that can be used in tendering; it is expected that the individual will write the final versions of those specifications and hold them on file.
• Regularly review and improve procurement processes for allocated categories, adapting to organisational strategic change.
• Working with the team, assess and manage risk across all allocated categories.
• Write, negotiate and sign off contracts with suppliers to achieve the maximum value for ShelterBox.
• Develop and maintain appropriate supplier and contract management processes for all allocated categories.
• Report on cost savings and avoidance and added value.
• Upskill individuals across the organisation on commercial processes, offering strategic advice and ensuring compliance with internal policies.
• Manage procurement-led projects such as procedure implementation, and software introduction.
• Develop and deliver sustainability improvements within the procurement function according to the Environmental Policy.
• Keep up to date with legislative changes, industry trends and market developments.
• Sign off on supply chain compliance as per the delegation of authority level.
• Maintain departmental databases.
• Ensure that the procurement administration is kept up to date and that all filing is in accordance with policy.
• Support procurement-related projects across the organisation.
• Uphold ethical and professional procurement standards at all times.
• Maintain commercial confidence for internal matters, and matters pertaining to suppliers.
• Represent ShelterBox as required.
• Any other duties as required which are deemed appropriate to the level and grade of the post.