Assistant Buyer in Newport

We are a gas distribution business that services the gas infrastructure across Wales and the south-west of England. We serve our customers and communities with safe, reliable, and affordable energy services whilst investing to create a sustainable future to deliver our carbon‑free vision for 2050.

We’re looking for an Assistant Buyer to join our Procurement Department to support the delivery of the WWU Procurement Strategy and Annual Procurement Plan and also be involved with procurement initiatives in order to improve the overall performance of the Procurement function. The role-holder will support the contract management process that enables the business to maximise the value obtained from its supplier relationships. You will also support the day-to-day procurement and with contract management issues, supplier performance issues and new procurement initiatives on designated contracts.

We’ll trust you to:

• Support the Category Manager and/or Buyer in the successful delivery of tender events.
• Act as the first point of contact for both suppliers and business stakeholders to help resolve sourcing and contract queries.
• Act as the key point of contact to WWU business stakeholders to assist in resolution of procurement systems/initiative queries e.g. provide expert guidance/training to SRM users.
• Maintain the category AVL to ensure the optimum number of suitably competent and fully accredited suppliers are available for use by the business to allow them to comply with the WWU Procurement Policy.

You’ll need to have:

• Broad relevant procurement experience and degree qualification and/or MCIPS qualification with some practical experience.
• Good relationship building skills.
• A good understanding of EU procurement regulations and contract processes, procedures and best practices.
• A focused self‑starter who takes ownership and responsibility for delivering against performance objectives.
• Ability to work both under own initiative and as part of a team.

As we are a safety critical organisation, all offers of employment are subject to pre‑employment drug & alcohol screening.

What’s in it for you?

• A competitive salary starting at £42,856 rising to £48,976.
• Flexible working opportunities.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Retirement Savings Plan (pension) with Aviva: 5% employee contribution, with WWU doubling your contribution at 10% - totalling 15%.
• 14 x salary Life Insurance linked to membership of the Retirement Savings Plan.
• “Choices” flexible benefit scheme options including corporate gym memberships, dental insurance, and health cash‑plans.
• Access to our Financial Wellbeing Programme - allowing you to manage your benefits flexibly to suit your financial needs.
• Enhanced pay for parental leave.
• Retail discounts and cashback scheme.
• Annual salary review.
• Discretionary annual bonus.
• Company Sick Pay.
• In‑house Occupational Health Team.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Our Ambition, Priorities and Values inform everything we do as a business – from our strategic planning to the performance management of our colleagues. Our values underpin everything we do and we are committed to creating a working environment that supports and fosters diversity, inclusion and equity, where all of our colleagues feel valued and supported to contribute to their full potential. We are focused on creating a culture where it doesn’t matter about gender, race, sexuality or disability; it’s about our colleagues’ skills, the way we do things and how we live our values.

If you think you’d make a good addition to the team, we would love to hear from you! To apply, click the link below. If you would prefer to complete your application form in an alternative format such as Microsoft Word or would like to discuss the role in a little more detail, please contact us at recruitment@wwutilities.co.uk or on 07971 038 982. You can also ask us about flexible working practices that may be available or tell us if you have any special requirements during the application process.