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- Tasks: Shape the future of science by managing procurement and building strong relationships.
- Company: Join a leading research institute dedicated to improving human health.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, supportive culture, and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in world-leading research while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. Are you a proactive Category Buyer looking to take the next step in your procurement career? Do you thrive on building strong stakeholder relationships, shaping category strategies, and delivering real commercial value? If you’re motivated by collaboration, enjoy influencing outcomes across complex scientific and operational environments, and want to play a key role in supporting world-leading research and innovation, then keep reading. This could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for!
About The Role
As a Category Buyer, you will:
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
- Share knowledge, build trust and credibility to enable influential communication.
- Establish good understanding of department strategy for allocated stakeholder areas, building this into mid/low risk Category planning.
- Manage and prioritise project workload based on Procurement principles of adding value and mitigating risk.
- Proactively identify new projects through stakeholder interaction.
- Formalise allocated Category strategies, project sourcing strategies in close collaboration with key stakeholders.
- Provide commercial insight to stakeholders and project teams, based on market knowledge and wider Institute activity.
- Constructively challenge the status quo to increase value and identify/mitigate risks.
About You
To excel in this role, you will need the following competencies:
- Comfortable building strong and collaborative working relationships with relevant stakeholders and project team members.
- A self-starter, able to work autonomously, but with full support of Partners where required.
- Proven negotiator with suppliers and customers alike and can develop collaborative relationships both internally and externally.
- Strong advocate for Procurement value proposition.
- Demonstrable experience in category management and associated tools/techniques.
- Ability to take underlying data and present narrative and recommendations to stakeholders.
- Solution and output oriented with a willingness to take on challenges.
- Proven ability to listen, understand business needs and provide win-win solutions in a proactive and principled manner.
- Flexible and pragmatic attitude.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Good understanding of key contractual terms.
About Us
The Procurement team are a friendly and supportive group. We’ve worked hard to establish ourselves as trusted and influential partners across the institute, which means that collectively we have excellent visibility of commercial activity across the Genome Campus. Our team’s mission is closely aligned with that of the wider organisation, and we believe that we add the most value through early and influential engagement; so, relationships (internal & external) are very important. World-leading science is in part delivered through the adoption of cutting-edge technology as well as an excellent physical environment – our beautiful Campus provides these in abundance, and the Procurement function plays a key role in supporting both.
Within the team, an environment of trust, empowerment and development is actively encouraged. People are expected to be bold, try new things, be accountable, but also feel supported when needed. This is an exciting time to join Sanger as we welcome our new Director, embark on a vast Campus expansion and look to tackle the external challenges which face us over the coming years.
Additional Information
Please note: This is a hybrid role with 2-3 days per week onsite. Applications: Please include a cover letter along with your CV. In your cover letter, include details on how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role described. Closing Date: Sunday 01-MAR-26.
Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others. We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Category Buyer employer: Wellcome Sanger Institute
Contact Detail:
Wellcome Sanger Institute Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential colleagues or mentors. Building those relationships can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your personality in interviews! We want to see the real you, so don’t just stick to rehearsed answers. Share your experiences, your passion for procurement, and how you can add value to the team. Remember, it’s about finding the right fit for both you and the company.
✨Tip Number 3
Do your homework! Research the company and its culture before your interview. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your skills as a Category Buyer align with their goals. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and the value you can bring to the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Category Buyer role. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description, especially in building relationships and delivering commercial value.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since negotiation is key in this role, share specific examples of successful negotiations you've led. This will demonstrate your ability to develop collaborative relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your CV and cover letter, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your achievements and relevant experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wellcome Sanger Institute
✨Know Your Stakeholders
Before the interview, research the key stakeholders you might be working with. Understand their roles and how they interact with the procurement process. This will help you demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships and show that you’re proactive in understanding their needs.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations where you’ve successfully influenced outcomes. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to achieve win-win solutions. This will highlight your experience as a proven negotiator, which is crucial for the Category Buyer role.
✨Demonstrate Category Management Knowledge
Brush up on category management tools and techniques relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you would formalise category strategies and project sourcing strategies. Showing that you have a solid grasp of these concepts will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Emphasise Your Problem-Solving Approach
Think of examples where you’ve constructively challenged the status quo to add value or mitigate risks. Discuss how you approach problem-solving in complex environments. This will illustrate your solution-oriented mindset and your ability to navigate challenges effectively.
