Senior Buyer in Retford

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype. Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible)
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive

The salary for this role is £44,290. This position is to be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.

Job Description

The Senior Buyer is a specialist with accountability for procurement, sourcing strategy, and commercial performance across major programmes, portfolios, and high-risk commercial environments. Operating above the Lead Buyer, the Senior Buyer provides direction, governance, and assurance for complex commercial activity and supports the shaping of organisational commercial strategy and policy. The role has a high degree of autonomy and decision-making authority, balancing value for money, commercial risk, regulatory compliance (including PA23), market resilience, and long-term supplier outcomes.

The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in enabling delivery at scale, driving commercial maturity, and building sustainable capability across the commercial function.

Accountability 1: Strategic Procurement & Commercial Leadership

• Play a key role in setting commercial and sourcing strategies for major programmes, high-value portfolios, or business-critical categories.
• Provide direction on procurement routes, commercial models, risk allocation, and contracting approaches for novel, complex, or nationally significant procurements.
• Enable the shaping of long-term category, supplier, and market development strategies, including resilience, innovation, and social value.
• Act as a delegated senior commercial authority for approvals, assurance, and challenge across procurement lifecycle stages.
• Ensure full compliance with PA23, delegated authorities, internal controls, and external regulatory expectations.

Accountability 2: Portfolio Contract Ownership & Commercial Risk

• Support and implement negotiation of high-value and precedent-setting contracts, including major infrastructure and construction arrangements, strategic supplier alliances and long-term frameworks, and complex professional services and integrated delivery models.
• Provide oversight of cost control, forecasting, and financial risk exposure.
• Participate in the organisation’s approach to commercial risk management, dispute avoidance, and escalation, including support to formal dispute resolution when required.

Accountability 3: Senior Stakeholder & Supplier Engagement

• Act as the organisation’s senior commercial representative with key delivery partners, strategic suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Build and sustain executive-level supplier relationships, driving performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide trusted commercial counsel to executive leadership and programme sponsors, project and engineering leadership, and finance, legal, and assurance functions.

Accountability 4: Governance, Assurance & Organisational Control

• Set and maintain commercial governance standards across programmes and portfolios.
• Provide independent challenge and assurance on commercial strategies, business cases, procurement outcomes, and contract changes.
• Lead responses to audit, assurance, regulatory scrutiny, and external reviews, ensuring consistent, defensible commercial practice.

Accountability 5: Leadership, Functional Management & Capability Building

• Provide strategic guidance to Lead Buyers, Buyers, and wider commercial professionals across multiple teams or programmes.
• Champion professional standards, ethical procurement, and continuous improvement.

Accountability 6: Embody a Leadership Mindset

• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Extensive experience in senior commercial, procurement, and contract leadership roles within large, complex, or regulated environments.
• Proven track record of leading major programmes or portfolios with high commercial risk and material financial impact.
• Deep, applied expertise in public sector procurement legislation (PA23), governance, and assurance.
• Exceptional leadership, judgement, negotiation, and stakeholder management capability.

Beneficial:

• MCIPS Chartered (or equivalent senior commercial accreditation).
• Experience shaping organisational commercial policy and operating models.
• Advanced expertise in NEC and other complex contracting forms.

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, and people with disabilities. Our Executive team actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions.