At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement activities ensuring compliance and efficiency in public sector projects.
- Company: Join Foodbuy, a leader in food procurement supporting the NHS.
- Benefits: Career growth, learning opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Hybrid working with travel to various UK sites.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that drives positive change in healthcare procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in public sector procurement and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
Location: Hybrid – Chertsey / Wakefield / Daresbury / Birmingham
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
About Foodbuy
Foodbuy is a leading food procurement organisation, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support a wide range of clients across public and private sectors, using our scale, expertise and insight to deliver value, innovation and sustainable supply chain solutions.
Within Foodbuy, NHS Supply Chain: Food plays a critical role in supporting hospitals and healthcare organisations across the UK — helping Trusts deliver outstanding food and dining services while meeting commercial, quality and regulatory expectations. Our teams work in close partnership with the NHS to drive engagement, improve performance and identify opportunities that genuinely make a difference.
The Role
We are looking for a Governance Buyer to join our NHS Supply Chain: Food team. This is a key role focused on ensuring procurement activity is fully compliant, commercially robust and aligned with organisational strategy.
You will lead and support end-to-end public procurement exercises, working closely with Category teams and wider stakeholders to design and deliver procurement solutions that are transparent, efficient and compliant — while driving best practice and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead full framework tender exercises and the establishment of Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS), from strategy development through to contract award
- Draft and manage tender documentation, publish notices, design compliant evaluation methodologies and lead evaluation and moderation processes, ensuring a robust audit trail
- Provide governance oversight and advice for mini competitions, RFQs, e-auctions and direct awards under existing frameworks and Dynamic Markets
- Advise on route-to-market decisions, evaluation approaches and regulatory compliance
- Operate and optimise the eProcurement system (Jaggaer), configuring tender stages and ensuring governance controls are embedded throughout
- Contribute to Category and Sourcing Strategies, providing governance and regulatory input to support savings delivery and market engagement
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, templates and guidance to ensure consistent ways of working
- Support and deliver training and awareness sessions to embed best practice procurement processes
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and support the resolution of complex procurement matters
What You’ll Bring
- Strong working knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations 2015
- Experience managing or supporting public sector procurement exercises, including frameworks and mini competitions
- Sound understanding of procurement governance, transparency and audit requirements
- Experience drafting procurement and tender documentation
- Experience using Jaggaer or a comparable eProcurement system
- Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills
- Ability to manage multiple procurement activities and work to challenging deadlines
- Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail
- Commercial awareness and understanding of sourcing and category management principles
Working Pattern
This is a full-time hybrid role, aligned to offices in Chertsey, Wakefield, Daresbury or Birmingham, depending on home location. Some travel to UK-based sites and offices will be required.
Why Join Us
In return, we offer clearly defined career pathways, strong learning and development programmes, and progression opportunities to support long-term career growth — alongside the opportunity to play a meaningful role in supporting the NHS through compliant and impactful procurement.
Locations
Governance Buyer in Chertsey, Surrey employer: Compass Group UK
Foodbuy is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation within the food procurement sector. With a strong commitment to employee development, we provide clear career pathways and robust training programmes, ensuring that our team members can grow and thrive while making a significant impact on the NHS and the communities we serve. Our hybrid working model across Chertsey, Wakefield, Daresbury, and Birmingham allows for flexibility, enabling you to balance your professional and personal life effectively.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Governance Buyer in Chertsey, Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the procurement field, especially those who work with NHS Supply Chain. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations 2015. We want you to show off your expertise and how it aligns with the role of Governance Buyer.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your experience with eProcurement systems like Jaggaer. Highlighting your tech-savvy side can really set you apart from other candidates!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Foodbuy.
We think you need these skills to ace Governance Buyer in Chertsey, Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Governance Buyer role. Highlight your experience with public sector procurement and any relevant knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your understanding of procurement governance and your ability to manage multiple activities. This will help us see how you can contribute to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforward communication, so let’s keep it simple and effective!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you’re not just familiar with the rules, but that you can apply them effectively in your role as a Governance Buyer.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples of how you've built strong relationships with stakeholders in previous roles. This is crucial for the Governance Buyer position, so think about specific instances where your communication and influencing skills made a difference.
✨Get Familiar with Jaggaer
If you haven’t already, take some time to learn about the Jaggaer eProcurement system or similar platforms. Being able to discuss your experience with these systems will demonstrate your readiness to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific procurement scenarios, like managing a mini competition or ensuring compliance during a tender process. Practising your responses will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.
