Join to apply for the Senior Buyer role at Balfour Beatty plc, based in Westhill, Aberdeen. The role plays a pivotal part in delivering critical procurement outcomes for major design and build projects, while leading and developing a team of buyers and junior buyers.
About The Role
At Balfour Beatty Power T&D, you will take full ownership of complex procurement activities, ensure robust risk management, and provide clear, insightful reporting to senior leadership teams at both project and business unit level. Your leadership will help shape the future of Scotland’s OHL business and support the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions.
What you’ll be doing
Leadership & Team Development
* Mentor, coach, and develop a team of buyers and junior buyers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
* Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support team members in achieving their goals.
* Lead by example, demonstrating best practices in procurement and stakeholder management.
Strategic Procurement Ownership
* Take full ownership of high‑value and high‑risk procurement activities, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry best practice.
* Develop and implement procurement strategies for major projects, aligning with business objectives and risk appetite.
* Oversee procurement schedules, ensuring integration with project timelines and delivery milestones.
Supplier & Subcontractor Management
* Lead supplier negotiations, evaluations, and risk management for critical contracts.
* Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships focused on value, quality, and innovation.
* Oversee the end‑to‑end tendering process, including issuing ITTs, bid evaluation, and contract award for high‑impact packages.
* Ensure robust management of subcontractor performance, addressing underperformance and escalating risks as required.
Reporting, Presentation & Senior Stakeholder Engagement
* Prepare and deliver high‑quality reports and presentations on procurement performance, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership teams at project and business unit level.
* Provide commercial insight and recommendations to inform strategic decision‑making.
* Act as the key procurement representative in project reviews, steering groups, and business unit meetings.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
* Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely delivery of materials and services.
* Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, leveraging data and feedback to enhance efficiency and value.
* Resolve complex supplier queries and elevate unresolved issues to senior management as appropriate.
Who we’re looking for
* Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with the ability to resolve complex challenges and present well‑grounded insights.
* Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage performance, and influence senior stakeholders.
* Presentation Skills: Confident in presenting procurement insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
* Procurement Knowledge: Experience in NEC Subcontract and commercial processes, with a strong track record in negotiation and contract management.
* Technical Expertise: Proficient in e‑tendering platforms, procurement tools, and documentation standards.
* Experience: Significant procurement experience in Utilities or Construction, managing both materials suppliers and subcontractors.
* Education: Relevant business degree, MCIPS qualification (or desire to pursue it), or equivalent experience.
* Travel: Willingness to travel within Scotland and across the UK for supplier visits and project/team meetings.
Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.
Benefits
* Smart working, including staggered start and finish times and up to 40% remote working where roles allow.
* 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
* Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partner leave.
* Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more.
About Us
Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks. From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and ongoing maintenance, our in‑house experts, flexible resources and industry‑leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.
Diversity and Inclusion
At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We are members of WISE, ENEI, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long‑term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence “Employer Recognition Scheme” and actively encourages applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Recruitment Process
We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: candidaterecruitmentqueries@balfourbeatty.com
Job Details
* Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
* Employment type: Full‑time
* Job function: Purchasing and Supply Chain
* Industries: Construction
Westhill, Scotland, United Kingdom
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Balfour Beatty plc by 2x.
Sign in to set job alerts for “Senior Buyer” roles.
#J-18808-Ljbffr