Senior Buyer in Swindon

At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network.

We are seeking a motivated and capable individual to join the Procurement & Commercial team as a Senior Buyer within the Great Western Route due to a promotion within Network Rail. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering procurement strategies across a diverse portfolio of goods, services and works. The team supports the Great Western Route across a wide spectrum of procurement activity, providing procurement expertise, commercial support and routes-to-market advice to stakeholders across the business.

You will support the development and delivery of sourcing and contracting strategies, frameworks and tendering activities, while identifying opportunities to improve procurement outcomes and deliver greater value. The role offers the opportunity to broaden and further develop existing procurement and commercial experience across stakeholder engagement, supplier management, commercial decision-making and sourcing delivery.

A key focus will be building on existing procurement arrangements, driving continuous improvement and supporting better business outcomes across the Great Western Route. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to further develop leadership experience through coaching and mentoring a direct report, helping to create a positive, supportive and high-performing team environment.

Working within an evolving procurement landscape, the role provides valuable exposure to the practical application of the Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations. You will help ensure procurement activities are delivered in line with legislative, policy and governance requirements, while building capability for future career progression within Procurement & Commercial.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and implement individual project and steady state contracting strategy proposals including preparation and evaluation of tender documents and negotiation of contracts.
• Provide post contract commercial management support for a range of contracts.
• Provide dedicated support to senior staff in respect of individual projects and/or contract/commercial issues, including 'rapid response' to potential contract disputes.
• Target specific goods, services and/or suppliers to identify how tangible improvements may be made in the procurement of these goods and services.
• Undertake regular contract management meetings with key stakeholders and suppliers to monitor whether maximum value was delivered via contract.
• Manage responsibilities for endorsements and approval of contract variations.
• Provide all services to programme/project teams in a timely and cost effective manner and contribute positively towards the achievement of programme/project objectives.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits:

• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year).
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from.
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, and enhanced family friendly support.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.

In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

This role requires working in the office for at least 60% of the working week. We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test.

You will ideally have:

• Recognised skills in contractual and commercial matters, with credibility and experience to act as advisor to other staff.
• Successful procurement background with practical intermediate level experience.
• Contributed towards maintaining successful relationships with suppliers.
• Knowledge of relevant contract terms.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.

Closing date: 16th September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. This vacancy is also being advertised externally.