Buyer in Derby

Location: East Midlands - hybrid working (3 days on site, occasional site visits)

Contract: 6 Months (possible extension)

Day Rate: £400 per day (Inside IR35)

We are supporting a large, complex organisation operating in a regulated infrastructure environment to recruit a Buyer on an initial 6‑month contract. This role sits within a close‑knit procurement team and is very delivery‑focused. It is ideal for a mid‑level or developing Buyer who enjoys running tenders, working closely with technical stakeholders, and taking ownership of their own work - rather than focusing on long‑term category strategy.

The Opportunity: You will be joining a small, hands‑on procurement team responsible for supporting major construction and engineering programmes. The focus of the role is running mini‑competitions and call‑offs from established frameworks, working directly with engineers and contractors to deliver compliant, value‑driven outcomes. The team works in a supportive way, with access to an experienced senior Buyer as a sounding board, while still giving you the autonomy to manage your own workload and priorities. This is a strong opportunity for someone looking to step up, gain exposure in a regulated utilities/infrastructure environment, and take on real responsibility quickly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Run mini‑competition tenders and call‑offs from existing frameworks
• Manage multiple sourcing events simultaneously (typically 3-5 at any time)
• Own tenders end‑to‑end, from requirement through to evaluation and award
• Engage closely with project engineers, contractors and internal stakeholders
• Support commercial evaluations and contribute to supplier negotiations
• Ensure all sourcing activity is compliant with internal governance and procurement processes
• Take ownership of assigned projects and manage them independently

Key Skills & Experience:

• Experience running call‑offs or mini‑competitions from frameworks
• Background in procurement or buying within a complex organisation
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities and pick things up quickly
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with technical teams
• Commercial awareness, including evaluation and basic negotiation experience
• Comfortable working in a largely remote, hybrid environment
• Experience in construction, infrastructure, engineering or utilities
• Exposure to regulated or compliance‑driven environments
• Experience working with framework agreements in capital projects or construction

Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, unfortunately, your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we may retain your details for any future suitable vacancies and contact you accordingly.

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.