About the role
The Senior Buyer is a development role for an experienced buyer looking to move into category management. Working across HC-One’s 146 care homes, the postholder supports the Environmental Hygiene & IPC and People, Brand & Office Services categories, with combined annual spend of about £15m. Within these, the Senior Buyer takes ownership of smaller sub-categories and selected higher-value contracts, managing them from sourcing and tender through to award, mobilisation and ongoing supplier performance. Reporting to the Head of Procurement and working closely with the Senior Procurement Manager, the Senior Buyer also contributes to category strategy, supplier negotiations and spend analysis. The role offers structured exposure to category management, with the scope of ownership growing as experience develops.
About You
Category Strategy & Market Analysis
- Support the development and delivery of category strategies for Environmental Hygiene & IPC and People, Brand & Office Services, providing analysis of market conditions, cost drivers and new products or services
- Carry out spend analysis to identify consolidation opportunities, off-contract and tail spend, and savings; build preferred supplier lists and frameworks to reduce the number of suppliers used
- Maintain market intelligence on hygiene, IPC, corporate and staff services suppliers, including pricing trends and regulatory changes affecting care home operations
Tendering & Procurement
- Lead tenders for allocated sub-categories and contracts, and support the Head of Procurement and Senior Procurement Manager on larger tenders, in line with procurement governance
- Prepare tender documentation, evaluation criteria and scoring matrices that reflect care home quality and safety requirements
- Manage evaluation and supplier selection, making sure decisions are evidenced and documented
Contract Management & Supplier Performance
- Support negotiations with suppliers to agree contracts with Key Performance Indicators, Service Level Agreements and quality standards suited to care home operations
- Manage ongoing supplier performance and hold regular supplier reviews for owned contracts
- Resolve supplier performance issues, including quality failures in critical categories
- Carry out supplier due diligence in line with HC-One’s Modern Slavery Act obligations and keep supplier Master Service Agreement documentation up to date
Stakeholder Collaboration & Team Support
- Build working relationships with HR, Marketing, Home Managers, Health and Safety, Operations and Finance colleagues
- Act as the procurement contact for owned sub-categories and contracts across the business
- Support the procurement admin assistant who manages some sub-categories day to day
- Support the Head of Procurement with procurement management information and savings tracking
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Buyer employer: HC-One Limited
HC-One is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being of both its residents and staff, fostering a supportive work culture in its care homes across Scotland. With a strong emphasis on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow through mentorship and training opportunities, ensuring they can provide the highest standards of care. The company's commitment to dignity and respect creates a fulfilling environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
