At a Glance
- Tasks: Source goods and services while ensuring best value and strong supplier performance.
- Company: Join Softcat, a leading IT infrastructure provider with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Flexible working patterns and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in a dynamic team focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and attention to detail.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Would you like to kick start your career in a supportive, collaborative and innovative company? Do you enjoy working as part of an enthusiastic, passionate, and collaborative team? Join our Procurement Team. You will be joining Softcat's Internal Procurement team, based at our Marlow Head Office. The team supports the business by sourcing goods and services across a wide range of internal spend areas, ensuring best value, strong governance, and effective supplier performance, while helping reduce commercial and contractual risk. Internal Procurement is a growing function, focused on improving control, visibility and value across internal spend, while working collaboratively with stakeholders across the organisation.
Your Role
The Internal Procurement Buyer is responsible for sourcing goods and services in line with business requirements, ensuring best value for money, policy compliance, and strong supplier performance. The role works closely with internal stakeholders to support day‑to‑day operational needs while adhering to procurement policies and commercial governance. This is a hands‑on buying role, focused on day‑to‑day purchasing activity, supplier engagement, and the continuous improvement of procurement processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage RFQs/RFPs, support supplier selection, negotiations and contract renewals
- Partner with internal teams to understand requirements and provide procurement guidance
- Act as first point of contact for procurement‑related queries and supplier engagement
- Ensure procurement activity complies with policies, controls and governance requirements
- Support contract management, risk identification and audit‑ready documentation
- Identify cost savings, efficiency improvements and support procurement initiatives
- Contribute to reporting on spend, savings and supplier performance data
Desired Qualities
- Experience in an internal procurement or buying role
- Confident negotiator across cost, pricing, contractual terms and commercial risk
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to compare and evaluate supplier proposals
- Confident stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Good working knowledge of procurement processes and purchase‑to‑pay systems
- High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
- Comfortable working with data, presenting data, spreadsheets and basic reporting
We also acknowledge that the confidence gap and imposter syndrome are a real thing and can get in the way of us meeting fantastic talent, so please don't hesitate to apply – we would love to hear from you!
Work in a way that works for you
We recognise that everyone is different and that the way in which people want to work and deliver at their best is different for everyone too. In this role, we can offer the following flexible working patterns:
- Hybrid working – 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home
- Working flexible hours – flexing the times you start and finish during the day
- Flexibility around school pick up and drop offs
Working with us
Wherever you work, we want you to experience the freedom and autonomy to realise your potential. You will feel supported by a team that celebrates individuality, encourages different perspectives, and embraces every background.
Disability and Inclusion
If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we can provide support or adjustments that you may need throughout our recruitment process or any mitigating circumstance you wish for us to consider. Any information you share on your application will be treated in confidence. You can find out more about life at Softcat and our commitments to diversity and inclusion at jobs.softcat.com/jobs/our-culture/.
Benefits
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and will provide you with opportunities to grow, flourish, and achieve great things. Our benefits include:
- Pension
- Share incentive plan
- Life Assurance
- Holiday Trips
- Vouchers
- Partner/family Benefits
- Maternity, Paternity and Adoption support
Internal Procurement Buyer in Marlow employer: Softcat plc
At Softcat, we pride ourselves on being a supportive and innovative employer, where our Internal Procurement Buyers can thrive in a collaborative environment. Located at our Marlow Head Office, you will benefit from flexible working patterns, a strong focus on employee growth, and a culture that celebrates individuality and diverse perspectives. With a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, we are committed to helping you achieve your career aspirations while ensuring a fulfilling work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Internal Procurement Buyer in Marlow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Softcat on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Internal Procurement Buyer role. Personal connections can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by researching common procurement scenarios. Think about how you would handle supplier negotiations or manage RFQs. Being ready with real-life examples will show you're serious about the role and understand the challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your data skills! Since the role involves working with spend and supplier performance data, be prepared to discuss how you've used data in past roles. Highlighting your analytical abilities can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our awesome team at Softcat!
We think you need these skills to ace Internal Procurement Buyer in Marlow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Internal Procurement Buyer role. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job description, like your procurement knowledge and negotiation skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Share specific examples of how your past experiences align with what we’re looking for in a candidate. Let us know why you’re excited about joining Softcat!
Showcase Your Attention to Detail:In procurement, attention to detail is key. Make sure your application is free from typos and errors. A well-organised application reflects your organisational skills, which are crucial for the Internal Procurement Buyer role. We appreciate the little things!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Softcat plc
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of procurement processes and purchase-to-pay systems. Familiarise yourself with common terms like RFQs, RFPs, and supplier engagement strategies. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also understand its core functions.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past experiences where you successfully negotiated terms or managed supplier relationships. Be ready to discuss how you approached these situations and what outcomes you achieved. This will demonstrate your confidence and capability as a negotiator.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would approach internal stakeholders to gather their requirements. During the interview, express your understanding of the importance of collaboration and communication in procurement. Share any relevant experiences where you effectively engaged with different teams.
✨Highlight Attention to Detail
Since this role requires strong organisational skills and attention to detail, prepare to discuss how you manage data and documentation. Bring examples of how you've ensured compliance with policies and maintained accurate records in previous roles. This will reassure them of your diligence and reliability.
