At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage IT procurement, develop sourcing strategies, and improve processes for internal customers.
- Company: Principality, a supportive and inclusive community focused on wellbeing and belonging.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, wellbeing support, and opportunities for continuous learning.
- Other info: Join a top-ranked inclusive employer with excellent colleague engagement.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while growing your career in a purpose-led environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in IT procurement and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
BELONG – There’s no place like Principality. At Principality, belonging isn’t just a value — it’s how we work every day. As a colleague, you’re already part of a supportive and inclusive community where your wellbeing, individuality, and life outside of work are genuinely respected. This internal opportunity is a chance to continue your journey with us, build on your experience, and grow your career within Principality.
We know that great work happens when people feel connected — to each other, to our purpose, and to the communities we serve. That’s why we focus on balance, invest in wellbeing, and encourage continuous learning and development across the organisation.
Why consider this opportunity? This role offers an opportunity to further develop your skills and make a meaningful contribution within Principality, while continuing to benefit from the culture and ways of working you already know:
- Flexible hybrid working – Our established hybrid approach supports flexibility while maintaining collaboration. This role includes a minimum of 8 days per month based in our Cardiff office.
- An inclusive and supportive culture – We’re proud to be recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers (ranked 27th in 2025), reflecting our ongoing commitment to inclusion and belonging for all colleagues.
- Purpose-led work – Our continued recognition for customer satisfaction, including Double Gold Awards at the Fairer Finance Awards 2025 for Savings and Mortgages, reflects the impact colleagues make every day.
- Strong colleague engagement – Engagement scores consistently above 85% demonstrate the positive environment we strive to maintain together.
- Wellbeing support – Our Belong benefits package continues to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing throughout your career with us.
These achievements are built by our people and reflect our shared commitment to supporting one another and delivering for our members. When it comes to belonging, there truly is no place like Principality — and this role is an opportunity to continue growing as part of it.
We are looking for a Senior Buyer to join our Procurement Team on a 12-month FTC and play a key role in delivering effective, commercially focused and well-governed procurement activity across Principality. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, project teams, specialist functions and external suppliers, supporting procurement activity from sourcing and tender management through to contract drafting, implementation and ongoing supplier management.
What you’ll be doing:
- Managing IT procurement activities with expertise and analytical skills
- Developing risk-mitigating and value-adding sourcing strategies
- Conducting competitive tendering and evaluation processes
- Drafting and implementing IT contracts
- Supporting and advancing our strategic and transformational objectives
- Improving processes to deliver efficient service to internal customers
What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience delivering IT procurement initiatives at Senior Buyer level (or equivalent), managing end-to-end sourcing and commercial activities across technology categories
- Strong track record of leading procurement workstreams within complex, high-value, or business-critical IT projects, balancing commercial, operational, and risk considerations
- Demonstrable success in negotiating technology contracts and securing sustainable commercial outcomes
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and communicate effectively with business, technology, risk, and senior leadership stakeholders
Desirable:
- Experience supporting digital transformation or strategic technology programmes
- Experience within a Financial Services or other highly regulated environment, although industry experience is not essential for the right candidate.
Qualifications required: MCIPS accreditation.
Why join us? This is a role where you can make a meaningful impact by helping the organisation buy well, manage supplier risk effectively and deliver value through strong commercial decision-making. You will work with a broad range of colleagues and stakeholders, contribute to important projects and help develop procurement knowledge across the business.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications.
Senior Buyer in Cardiff employer: Principality Building Society
Join a dynamic organisation where you can play a pivotal role in shaping funding and liquidity strategy as a BSM Senior Manager. Our collaborative, high-performing team offers a supportive work culture that values innovation and continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and influence at the executive level. With a focus on strategic decision-making and a commitment to robust risk management, this role is perfect for those looking to make a meaningful impact in a regulated environment.
Contact Details:
Principality Building Society Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer in Cardiff
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Principality Building Society that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Principality Building Society can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Principality Building Society that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Principality Building Society know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Principality Building Society
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.