At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and contract negotiations to optimise procurement.
- Company: Join a dynamic procurement team in a well-established organisation.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career advancement in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of procurement while making impactful decisions and improvements.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic sourcing and strong negotiation skills required.
Location: Hayes (Primarily Onsite)
Job Type: Full-Time 40 hours (flexi time)
About the Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Strategic Buyer to join my clients procurement team in Hayes. This is a key role responsible for managing strategic sourcing activities, supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and procurement compliance across a diverse portfolio of services and materials.
With responsibility for approximately 160 suppliers, the successful candidate will play a critical role in reviewing and optimising the existing supplier and contract landscape, identifying opportunities to strengthen commercial arrangements, reduce risk, improve supplier performance, and drive best-practice procurement processes across the business.
This position would suit a confident, self-motivated procurement professional who enjoys working autonomously, influencing stakeholders, challenging existing agreements, and delivering measurable commercial value.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
- Develop and implement sourcing strategies for assigned categories of goods and services.
- Conduct market analysis, supplier benchmarking and cost modelling to identify savings, cost avoidance and value improvement opportunities.
- Lead RFQs, tender exercises and supplier selection processes, ensuring transparent and compliant decision-making.
- Review the existing supplier base and identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, performance improvements and commercial optimisation.
- Contract Management & Negotiation
- Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers, securing favourable pricing, terms and conditions.
- Review, negotiate and manage contracts, ensuring agreements align with business objectives and compliance requirements.
- Challenge and improve existing and legacy supplier agreements to strengthen commercial value and reduce risk.
- Partner closely with Legal to review, draft and approve contracts while ensuring stakeholders understand contractual obligations and risks.
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Manage relationships with a broad supplier portfolio, ensuring strong performance and service delivery.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews, business reviews and corrective action planning where required.
- Resolve supplier issues and disputes in a professional and commercially effective manner.
- Visit suppliers and host supplier meetings to support ongoing relationship management and strategic discussions.
- Risk, Compliance & Governance
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with relevant legislation, company policies, governance standards, export controls, sanctions requirements and data protection obligations.
- Identify and mitigate commercial, contractual and supply chain risks.
- Maintain complete and audit-ready procurement and contract documentation.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen procurement controls and processes.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong working relationships across Finance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Information Security and other key business functions.
- Provide procurement expertise and commercial guidance to stakeholders.
- Prepare clear reports, business cases, supplier reviews and executive-level presentations.
- Operational Support
- Provide cover for Operational Buyers when required, including purchase order management, expediting activities and supplier coordination.
- Take ownership of procurement activities through to completion, balancing multiple priorities effectively.
About You
To be successful in this role, you'll be a confident and credible procurement professional who combines strong commercial judgement with exceptional negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in strategic sourcing, procurement and supplier management.
- Proven success negotiating complex commercial contracts and supplier agreements.
- Strong contract management experience, including working alongside Legal teams.
- Experience reviewing and improving existing supplier agreements and procurement frameworks.
- Strong supplier relationship management and supplier performance improvement experience.
- Commercially astute with excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including analysis, forecasting, reporting and dashboard creation.
- Strong PowerPoint presentation skills.
- Experience utilising AI tools and digital technologies to improve procurement effectiveness and decision-making.
- Experience working with ERP systems, ideally SAP.
- Strong understanding of procurement compliance, governance and risk management.
Desirable Experience
- Aviation or aerospace industry procurement experience.
- CIPS qualification or working towards membership.
- Knowledge of ISO 27001 and information security principles.
- Degree or professional qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Law or a related discipline.
Personal Attributes
- Self-motivated and highly organised.
- Confident decision-maker who can work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong negotiator with the ability to influence stakeholders and suppliers.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to analyse complex contractual information.
- Resilient, proactive and solution-focused.
- High levels of integrity, accountability and professionalism.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Working Arrangements
Full-time position based in Hayes. Primarily onsite, particularly during the first six months, to support stakeholder engagement and supplier review activities. Regular supplier visits and occasional business travel may be required. Applicants must have the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a well-established supplier portfolio and play a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the organisation's procurement function. You'll have the autonomy to challenge existing processes, improve commercial outcomes and help build a stronger, more strategic purchasing operation for the future.
If you feel you are suitable for this role, please apply now or contact Callum Withey at Shorterm Group for more information.
Buyer in Hayes employer: Shorterm Group
As a leading employer in the civil engineering sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture at Heathrow Airport. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through structured training programmes and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that you can advance your career while contributing to vital infrastructure projects. With a focus on safety and excellence, we offer a dynamic environment where your expertise will be valued and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Hayes
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Shorterm Group.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Hayes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Shorterm Group:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Shorterm Group. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Shorterm Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Shorterm Group
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Shorterm Group!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Shorterm Group. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Shorterm Group's culture.
