Senior Buyer

Linear Recruitment; Walsall; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Linear Recruitment is seeking a Senior Buyer to support major UK civil engineering and infrastructure projects. You will own strategic and operational purchasing, negotiate terms, and build strong supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery within budget and quality standards.

You will work with project teams and procurement colleagues to drive value, monitor supplier performance and manage procurement schedules, spend, and budgets across multiple projects and frameworks.

Qualifications

• Proven purchasing experience within construction, civil engineering or a closely related sector.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience building long-term supplier relationships.
• Demonstrable commercial awareness, including budget monitoring, cost control and identifying savings.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• A proactive, detail-oriented approach to procurement and supplier management.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and procurement systems.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic and operational procurement activities across construction and civil engineering projects.
• Work closely with project teams to understand requirements, coordinate purchasing and ensure materials and services meet programme deadlines.
• Represent Procurement at tender, pre-start, project delivery and internal stakeholder meetings.
• Negotiate supplier contracts, pricing and commercial terms to achieve cost savings and improve value for money.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, category leads and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor supplier performance, contractual compliance and service delivery, implementing corrective action where required.
• Manage procurement schedules, purchase orders, project expenditure and budgets.
• Produce spend reports, cost analyses and procurement performance data to support business decisions and departmental KPIs.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with relevant frameworks, internal procedures and governance requirements.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, supply chain innovation and sustainable procurement.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues, including mentoring and managing assigned team members.
• Monitor market trends and developments to support effective sourcing strategies and category management.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Negotiation

Budget monitoring

Stakeholder management

Analytical

Communication

Proactive procurement

Mentoring team

Education

CIPS qualification

Procurement/supply chain qualifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Opportunity

We are recruiting a Senior Buyer to join an established UK civil engineering and infrastructure specialist, supporting the delivery of major projects across the water, transport, energy and built environment sectors.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced construction procurement professional to take ownership of strategic and operational purchasing, negotiate competitive commercial terms and build strong relationships across the supply chain. You will work closely with project teams, procurement colleagues and key suppliers to ensure materials and services are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality and safety standards.

The Role

As Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating and procuring construction materials and services across multiple projects and frameworks. You will play a key role in driving value for money, maintaining supplier performance and ensuring procurement activities meet commercial, contractual and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage strategic and operational procurement activities across construction and civil engineering projects.

• Work closely with project teams to understand requirements, coordinate purchasing and ensure materials and services meet programme deadlines.

• Represent Procurement at tender, pre-start, project delivery and internal stakeholder meetings.

• Negotiate supplier contracts, pricing and commercial terms to achieve cost savings and improve value for money.

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, category leads and internal stakeholders.

• Monitor supplier performance, contractual compliance and service delivery, implementing corrective action where required.

• Manage procurement schedules, purchase orders, project expenditure and budgets.

• Produce spend reports, cost analyses and procurement performance data to support business decisions and departmental KPIs.

• Ensure purchasing activities comply with relevant frameworks, internal procedures and governance requirements.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, supply chain innovation and sustainable procurement.

• Provide guidance and support to colleagues, including mentoring and managing assigned team members.

• Monitor market trends and developments to support effective sourcing strategies and category management.

Materials and Services

Experience procuring a range of construction materials and services is desirable, particularly:

• Pipework and valves

• Aggregates

• Precast and ready-mixed concrete

• Muckaway and waste management

• Soil testing

About You

We are looking for a commercially minded procurement professional with experience purchasing materials and services within the construction or civil engineering sector.

You will be confident negotiating with suppliers, managing competing priorities and working collaboratively with project teams to deliver cost-effective procurement solutions.

Essential Requirements

• Proven purchasing experience within construction, civil engineering or a closely related sector.

• Strong negotiation skills and experience building long-term supplier relationships.

• Demonstrable commercial awareness, including budget monitoring, cost control and identifying savings.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities.

• A proactive, detail-oriented approach to procurement and supplier management.

• Competent in Microsoft Office and procurement systems.

• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within the water or utilities sector.

• Knowledge of construction materials, supply chain frameworks and associated goods and services.

• CIPS qualification or working towards professional accreditation.

• Relevant procurement, supply chain, engineering or business qualifications.

• Experience preparing reports and presenting procurement information to senior stakeholders.

• Previous experience mentoring colleagues or managing a team.

Why Apply?

You will join a well-established infrastructure business with a strong pipeline of secured work across major UK projects and long-term frameworks.

The organisation is committed to investing in its people, promoting career development and creating an inclusive working environment where employees are supported to progress. You will have the opportunity to contribute to high-profile infrastructure projects, influence procurement performance and develop your career within a collaborative team.