Senior Buyer

Matchtech Group; Walsall; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension and life assurance

Private medical cover

25 days' annual leave plus bank-hols

Volunteering allowance and wellbeing

Flexible benefits, salary sacrifice

Vehicle or car allowance

Leadership and management development

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic and operational procurement for live civils and infrastructure projects. This site- and stakeholder-facing role supports projects delivered through frameworks, alliances, and standalone schemes, sourcing materials and services while managing supplier relationships.

You will negotiate terms, ensure compliance with frameworks and internal processes, and drive value, quality, and sustainability across procurement activities.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement or purchasing within the construction or civil engineering sector.
• Understanding of relevant construction regulations, standards and supply chain requirements.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build long-term supplier relationships and deliver savings and value.
• Commercial awareness and experience controlling and monitoring budgets.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across internal and external teams.
• Experience with materials and services such as pipework, valves, aggregates, precast, ready-mix concrete, muckaway, waste management or soil testing.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Represent Procurement at tender, pre-start and key stakeholder meetings.
• Source and expedite materials and services in line with programme and budget requirements.
• Ensure purchasing activity remains compliant with relevant frameworks, procurement strategies and internal processes.
• Build and manage supplier and category relationships, monitoring performance and contractual compliance.
• Negotiate pricing, terms and contracts to deliver value without compromising quality, safety or service.
• Support sustainability and social value objectives through supply chain innovation and improved product choices.
• Monitor market trends and lead activity for allocated commodities or categories.
• Maintain an auditable procurement trail, accurate procurement schedules and up-to-date purchase order and supply chain records.
• Produce spend reports, cost analysis and procurement performance information.
• Support departmental KPI delivery through data analysis and corrective actions.
• Monitor costs against project and framework budgets.
• Lead and mentor assigned team members, managing performance where appropriate.
• Promote best practice and continuous improvement across the procurement function.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

CIPS qualification

Degree in procurement/supply chain/engineering/business

ONC/HNC/HND

Tools

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client is a well-established Tier 1 civil engineering and infrastructure contractor delivering major projects across the water, transport, energy and built environment sectors. They are seeking a Senior Buyer to lead strategic and operational procurement activity for live civils and infrastructure projects within a permanent position. This site- and stakeholder-facing role will support projects delivered through frameworks, alliances, joint ventures and standalone schemes. It will involve sourcing materials and services, managing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms and ensuring procurement activity supports programme, budget, quality and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent Procurement at tender, pre-start and key stakeholder meetings
• Work closely with project and operational teams to source and expedite materials and services in line with programme and budget requirements
• Ensure purchasing activity remains compliant with relevant frameworks, procurement strategies and internal processes
• Build and manage supplier and category relationships, monitoring performance and contractual compliance
• Negotiate pricing, terms and contracts to deliver value without compromising quality, safety or service
• Support sustainability and social value objectives through supply chain innovation and improved product choices
• Monitor market trends and lead activity for allocated commodities or categories
• Maintain an auditable procurement trail, accurate procurement schedules and up-to-date purchase order and supply chain records

Additional Responsibilities

• Produce spend reports, cost analysis and procurement performance information
• Support departmental KPI delivery through data analysis and corrective actions
• Monitor costs against project and framework budgets
• Lead and mentor assigned team members, managing performance where appropriate
• Promote best practice and continuous improvement across the procurement function

Job Requirements

• Experience in procurement or purchasing within the construction or civil engineering sector
• Understanding of relevant construction regulations, standards and supply chain requirements
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to build long-term supplier relationships and deliver savings and value
• Commercial awareness and experience controlling and monitoring budgets
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across internal and external teams
• Analytical, detail-oriented and proactive approach to problem-solving
• Experience with materials and services such as pipework, valves, aggregates, precast, ready-mix concrete, muckaway, waste management or soil testing
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable Skills and Qualifications

• Experience of procurement within the water sector
• CIPS qualification, or a willingness to work towards one
• Relevant qualification in procurement, supply chain, engineering or business, such as an ONC, HNC, HND or degree
• Confidence presenting to senior stakeholders, with strong PowerPoint and presentation skills
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

Benefits

• Pension and life assurance
• Private medical cover
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with service and loyalty recognition
• Volunteering allowance and employee assistance programme wellbeing support
• Flexible benefits, including salary sacrifice options
• Vehicle or car allowance scheme, depending on role requirements
• Leadership and management development, structured reviews, appraisals and long-service awards

Our client offers a strong pipeline of long-term infrastructure work, broad exposure across civils and M&E projects, and a clear promote-from-within culture. If you are an experienced Senior Buyer with a background in construction procurement or civil engineering supply chain,