Senior Buyer - Grays

Balfour Beatty; Grays; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in Grays is seeking a Senior Buyer to manage procurement for their major infrastructure projects. This role includes overseeing complex procurement processes, managing supplier relationships, and supporting commercial teams. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in procurement within a construction context and excellent negotiation skills. Competitive salary and attractive benefits offered.

Benefits

Attractive negotiated salary

25 days annual leave

Pension savings schemes

Employee benefits and discounts

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in procurement within a construction environment.
• Proven negotiation and process compliance skills.
• Customer-focused and excellent communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support procurement and commercial teams with tendering and supplier selection.
• Conduct negotiations and manage supplier contracts.
• Provide supervision and reports on procurement performance.

Skills

Experience in complex procurement processes

Supplier relationship management

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

MCIPS qualification or related degree

Tools

Oracle

Jaggaer

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over‑50s age inclusive jobs board.

About the role

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a Senior Buyer to join our £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing project, consisting of 43 bridges, including viaducts, 17 km of complex highways construction, complex utility diversions, and a scheme‑wide, industry‑leading approach to carbon reduction.

Balfour Beatty Highways maintain, manage and operate major highway networks across the UK and support local authorities creating communities where people want to live, work and play.

The Senior Buyer is part of the wider Procurement Function and will work with the LTC Project team to deliver the LTC Procurement Strategy and procurement activities that align with the main contract, the business’s objectives, strategy and processes.

What you'll be doing

• Supporting the procurement, estimating and commercial teams with tendering, market analysis, supplier selection, risk and opportunity assessments and forecasting requirements.
• Carrying out the procurement process for complex packages in accordance with LTC procurement & supply chain management strategy, including:
  • Preparation of requests for proposals and quotations.
  • Preparation and issuing of ITT documentation.
  • Evaluation and analysis of supplier responses (both quantitative and qualitative).
  • Assessing value using Most Economically Advantageous Tender or Social Value evaluation techniques.
  • Carrying out commercial checks for suppliers and past performance.
  • Conducting negotiations to enable the shortlisting of suppliers.
  • Making shortlist recommendations to the Procurement Manager and project team, highlighting distinguishing factors and rationale.
  • Conducting final negotiations with selected suppliers to prepare contracts/orders and ensure compliance with BBV procurement governance.
  • Providing supervision to direct reports, including buyers and graduate buyers, on procurement process activities.
  • Providing regular reports on procurement and supplier performance.
  • Monitoring the supply market to identify potential new suppliers and products and meeting with suppliers to understand their offerings.
  • Keeping abreast of market developments, demand trends and risks.

Who we're looking for

• Substantial experience of complex procurement processes within a construction‑related environment.
• Proven track record in managing supplier relationships, negotiation and process compliance.
• The ability to adopt a pragmatic, yet disciplined approach to process compliance.
• Stakeholder management skills.
• Customer‑focused attitude.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of procurement ERP and e‑tendering systems (e.g. Oracle, Jaggaer or similar).
• Supply Chain Management experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Desirable: understanding of legal frameworks and contract law (NEC).
• Desirable: MCIPS qualification, degree or similar equivalent (or working towards).

Benefits

• Attractive negotiated salary.
• 42 core base hours per week.
• 25 days annual leave.
• Pension savings schemes.
• Whole host of other Balfour Beatty staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers etc).
• Refer a friend bonus scheme.
• Scores of other Balfour Beatty opportunities via our careers portal.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

• 25 days paid annual leave (pro‑rata).
• Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and 4 weeks full pay for paternity/partner’s leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and more.

About us

Balfour Beatty Highways delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong order book and a positive pipeline of opportunities, putting the road user at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and add social value to the communities we serve.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of identity or background. Visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion to learn how we are making this a reality.

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We also offer applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/.

We continually improve our resourcing process to ensure it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have feedback on the process, please share it with us at [e-mail].