At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing and procurement activities while managing supplier relationships and negotiations.
- Company: Dynamic organisation at the forefront of research, technology, and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hybrid working, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth during a critical period of change.
- Why this job: Join a high-performing team and drive commercial success in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven procurement experience and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 30 - 30 £ per hour.
Our client is seeking an experienced procurement professional to provide immediate support within a busy and high-performing procurement function during a period of growth and change. This is a hands-on role where you'll take ownership of sourcing and supplier management activities across a broad range of expenditure categories, working closely with stakeholders to deliver commercial outcomes, manage risk and ensure projects progress at pace.
Operating within a complex research, innovation and technology-led environment, you'll be trusted to manage competing priorities, challenge constructively and provide commercially sound procurement support from day one.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end sourcing and procurement activities across multiple spend categories
- Manage competitive tendering and supplier selection processes
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, acting as a trusted procurement partner
- Lead supplier negotiations and support contract discussions
- Identify opportunities to drive value, improve supplier performance and mitigate risk
- Conduct market analysis and supplier research to support sourcing strategies
- Manage a portfolio of procurement projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery against agreed timescales
- Provide commercial advice and procurement expertise to internal stakeholders
- Support contract implementation and supplier relationship management activities
About You
We're looking for an experienced procurement professional who can quickly establish credibility and operate with a high degree of autonomy. You'll bring:
- Proven experience within procurement, sourcing or strategic purchasing environments
- Experience managing sourcing projects and supplier negotiations
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- The confidence to challenge requirements and drive commercial decision-making
- Excellent commercial awareness and analytical capability
- The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- A track record of delivering value through supplier and procurement activity
- Experience operating across a variety of spend categories would be advantageous
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to join a fantastic business operating at the forefront of research, technology and innovation. You'll work on a varied portfolio of procurement projects, engage with senior stakeholders and play a key role in supporting a busy procurement function during a critical period.
Interim Senior Buyer in Cambridge employer: Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers
Join a prestigious organisation in Cambridge that is committed to fostering a dynamic work culture and supporting employee growth through a significant transformation programme. As the Head of EPM FCCS and Financial Data Structure, you will benefit from a collaborative environment that values innovation and offers opportunities for professional development, all while enjoying the vibrant academic and cultural atmosphere of Cambridge. With a focus on meaningful contributions to financial reporting and planning, this role provides a unique chance to make a lasting impact within a large, complex organisation.
Contact Details:
Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Senior Buyer in Cambridge
✨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 Interim Senior Buyer in Cambridge
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 Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers 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, Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers 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 Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers 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 Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers 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 Pure Resourcing Solutions Careers
✨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.
