The Buyer provides high-quality, timely procurement support aligned to processes and best practice, including sourcing, managing procurement schedules, supporting procurement strategies, and coordinating deliveries. The role supports successful project outcomes by ensuring alignment with project requirements, customer specifications and governance, while capturing and feeding back supplier performance to support central supply chain management. The Buyer plays a key role in delivering successful project outcomes as a directly chargeable role, providing effective procurement support throughout the project lifecycle, including ongoing supplier performance management.
Responsibilities
- Deliver procurement activities for assigned projects in line with programme, budget, and technical specifications.
- Prepare and issue RFQs/ITTs based on project requirements.
- Work with key stakeholders to ensure both technical and commercial compliance requirements are met at RFQ stage.
- Obtain and evaluate quotations using approved templates, preparing tender evaluations and recommendations.
- Prepare and maintain Procurement Schedules providing regular updates to the Project Manager and ensure supplier PQQs remain valid for project duration.
- Ensure timely placement of purchase orders, ensuring all contractual and technical requirements are correctly flowed down to the supply chain.
- Expedite orders as required to support project delivery.
- Resolve routine supplier issues and escalate complex matters where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate project procurement records including evaluations, quotations, and correspondence for all assigned projects.
- Participate in project meetings to update the team on procurement progress, risks, and dependencies.
- Engage with project-specific suppliers and subcontractors.
- Clarify technical queries, delivery constraints, and project-specific requirements.
- Provide supplier performance insights for project reviews and central supply chain management purposes.
- Support invoice matching processes by providing accurate information to Finance.
- Assist with collecting supplier documentation (insurance, certificates, contact details) in support of supplier onboarding & renewals.
- Help maintain central supplier details in supply chain management software and supplier records in procurement filing structure.
Tendering & Bid Support
- Support Business Winning with early supplier engagement and tender inputs.
- Source and benchmark suppliers for new projects and bids.
- Prepare RFQ packs and coordinate tender returns under direction of the Bid Manager.
- Produce procurement pricing summaries, assumptions, and risks for bid submissions.
- Provide supplier performance insights to the Supply Chain Coordinator.
- Participate in supplier capability discussions when required.
Governance & Process Compliance
- Communicate proactively on procurement progress, risks, and supplier delays.
- Follow procurement processes, templates, evaluation methods, and documentation standards.
- Ensure all purchase activity meets internal policies, delegated authority limits, and commercial controls.
- Maintain clean, accurate, and auditable procurement files.
- Support practical problem-solving and early identification of risks.
- Build strong working relationships across the business to improve procurement engagement.
Qualifications
- CIPS Level 4 (or equivalent) – Essential
- IOSH Managing Safely or Level 2 Health & Safety in the Workplace or equivalent – Relevant training will be provided if required
- Proven background in sourcing, RFQ management, negotiating, and supplier engagement – Essential
- Understanding of commercial, technical, and quality requirements in procurement – Essential
- Experience in project-based procurement in engineering, construction, defence, or manufacturing environments – Essential
- Strong communication and negotiation skills – Essential
- Ability to manage multiple sourcing packages concurrently – Essential
- High attention to detail and strong organisational discipline – Essential
- Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams – Essential
- Proficient in procurement systems, Microsoft Office, and document management tools – Essential
- Reliable, methodical approach to documentation and record management – Essential
