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- Tasks: Lead high-value procurement activities and develop sourcing strategies for innovative energy solutions.
- Company: Join Northern Powergrid, a leader in the evolving energy industry.
- Benefits: Earn up to £50,000 with a 10% performance bonus and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy sector while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: A-Level education, MCIPS qualified or working towards it, and strong negotiation skills.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for professional development and mentoring.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Do you want to help power your career and be part of an evolving energy industry? An exciting opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic Senior Buyers to join our Commercial team. The energy industry is advancing with investment in smart technology innovation and Northern Powergrid, as the company responsible for powering everyday life for 8 million customers across 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is at the forefront of delivering a power network that meets the region’s needs now and in the future.
We are a diverse team, creating a smarter, more flexible electricity distribution network that will enable our region to decarbonise and meet the needs of our customers now, and in the future. Along with a competitive salary of up to £50,000 we also offer great benefits such as:
- 10% performance bonus
- Agile working
- Enrolment into our double matched pension scheme
- Enrolment in a Company Vehicle Scheme or Cash Alternative
- Opportunities for further professional development, e.g. CIPS
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior Buyer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high‑value procurement activity across the business. You will take ownership of the full sourcing lifecycle, using your commercial expertise to drive value, innovation, and strong supplier partnerships. Your responsibilities will include:
- Developing robust sourcing strategies for each tender, ensuring optimum value, supplier competitiveness, and alignment with organisational objectives.
- Premarket engagement to improve competition and outcomes.
- Leading the supplier pre‑qualification process, developing appropriate selection criteria to identify capable partners and helping shape a high‑quality, compliant supplier pool.
- Collaborating closely with internal stakeholders to produce comprehensive Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents, including scopes of work, technical specifications, contract terms, and award criteria.
- Evaluating supplier submissions across both pre‑qualification and tender stages, against published criteria, and applying commercial insight, risk awareness, and business alignment to all recommendations.
- Facilitating tender clarification activities, including supplier Q&A and clarification meetings, ensuring a transparent and well‑managed process.
- Analysing value, affordability, and commercial viability of bids to support informed, strategic decision‑making.
- Preparing clear, compelling award proposals that capture the outcomes of the sourcing process and guide business leaders toward confident contract awards.
- Driving the contract award and execution process, working with suppliers and business teams to ensure seamless transition from tender to contract start.
- Supporting and mentoring junior team members, sharing knowledge, developing capability, and contributing to a high‑performing procurement function.
Qualifications and Attributes
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- Educated to A‑Level standard (or equivalent).
- MCIPS qualified, working towards accreditation, or demonstrating a strong commitment to achieving it.
- Full, clean UK driving licence.
- Proven experience delivering projects on time, ensuring tasks are completed within agreed schedules and expectations.
- Strong negotiation skills, with a track record of achieving favourable outcomes.
- Good understanding of contract terms, conditions, and the basics of contract law, and the ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Degree‑level education in a relevant discipline, such as procurement, business, supply chain, engineering or similar.
- Experience using electronic sourcing systems, with confidence navigating digital tendering and supplier management tools.
- Background in regulated procurement, with an understanding of compliance requirements and structured procurement processes.
- Experience working within the utilities sector or a similar regulated industry, ideally involving large‑scale or complex procurement activity.
- Practical experience procuring services that support operational, engineering or maintenance activities, ensuring suppliers can meet technical and service‑level needs.
Senior Buyer in Sunderland employer: Northern Powergrid
Contact Detail:
Northern Powergrid Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer in Sunderland
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Senior Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. Show us you’re genuinely interested in how Northern Powergrid is evolving and how you can contribute to their mission of creating a smarter energy network.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Buyer, you’ll need to demonstrate strong commercial judgement. Role-play with a friend or mentor to get comfortable discussing terms and conditions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer in Sunderland
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Buyer role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your strong negotiation skills and commercial judgement. Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've successfully managed high-value contracts or driven value through supplier partnerships.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read and understand your qualifications and experiences quickly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team at Northern Powergrid.
How to prepare for a job interview at Northern Powergrid
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your procurement knowledge, especially around sourcing strategies and supplier management. Be ready to discuss how you've developed robust sourcing strategies in the past and how you can apply that experience to the role.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led. Highlight how you achieved favourable outcomes and what techniques you used. This will demonstrate your strong commercial judgement and ability to drive value for the company.
✨Get Familiar with the Company
Research Northern Powergrid and understand their mission in the energy sector. Knowing their goals and challenges will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their objectives.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've managed multiple stakeholders in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific instances where you coordinated activities and ensured clarity among different teams, as this is crucial for the Senior Buyer position.