Senior Buyer (Technology)

Role Purpose
This is an individual contributor role which supports the Senior Category Manager for Digital Operations, sitting within the Technology Tower in Group Procurement, and is responsible for executing the category plan (including associated strategies) and managing supplier relationships. The role focuses on sourcing, supplier management, and business engagement, with a particular emphasis on handling Order Form (OF), Statements of Work (SOWs), purchase requests (PRs) and purchase orders (POs) across Ariba, Oracle and Fieldglass platforms. The Digital Operations Category represents an annual spend of approximately £100m, covering End User Compute (Laptops, Mobiles and Devices), Telephony & AV, User Software, and Observability. The role will procure software, hardware and, where applicable, professional services. Although primarily aligned to the Digital Operations category, the role may support other sub‑teams within Group Procurement.

Key Interfaces
Senior Category Manager (line management)
Category Managers and other buyers
Group Procurement Centre of Excellence and Shared Services teams
Business: supplier business owners and budget holders
Key partnering functions: Head of Foundation Services and their function

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support category strategy delivery and supplier relationship management (SRM) across assigned spend areas.
• Lead sourcing and negotiations for low‑medium value agreements and renewals, escalating where needed and ensuring compliant contracts, terms, and due diligence.
• Partner with stakeholders to validate demand, manage purchase requests (PR/PO) and ensure accurate pipeline tracking.
• Maintain supplier relationships, support Category Managers and contribute across sourcing activities as workload requires.
• Ensure procurement processes are followed, including approvals, contracts, and governance standards.
• Act as a key procurement contact, working with stakeholders (Legal, Finance, Cyber, Engineering, HR) to resolve queries and drive progress.
• Manage procurement systems, data and reporting to support efficient operations and informed decision‑making.
• Support contract management by monitoring performance, driving improvements and ensuring appropriate actions and approvals.
• Stay informed on market trends to recommend alternative suppliers and support better sourcing decisions.
• Deliver high‑quality BAU support across the sourcing lifecycle, promoting continuous improvement and strong stakeholder service.

Experience and Skills Required

• Minimum of 3 years experience in buying or procurement.
• Commercially minded and proficient negotiator.
• Ability to liaise with and manage suppliers.
• Experience in market and category analysis.
• Ability to assess, prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Strong IT skills (Office programs especially, procurement systems desirable) and ability to provide management information to assist sourcing and contract management processes.
• Ability to build relationships, influence and act as an expert across the organisation up to senior management level.
• General analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Pro‑active behaviour that demonstrates initiative and a positive work ethic to ensure activities are delivered to the required time, budget and quality.
• Maximise opportunities and challenge ways of working, adopting Group practices and seeking and providing information and clarification.
• Teamwork – ability to work with other category teams, both local and offshore, to deliver services to stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Educated to degree level.

Desirable

• Procurement/supply operation qualification, e.g. MCIPS or IAACM, or working towards the qualification.
• Experience of procurement in a Financial Services Regulated Environment, Information Services Companies, FinTechs, or Global, multi‑country organisations.

Equal Opportunities
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. This means that we do not discriminate on the basis of anyone’s race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. Conforming with applicable law, we can reasonably accommodate applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs.