Position: Buyer/Senior Buyer
Location: Southampton (With Hybrid Working Available)
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 Plus Excellent Benefits Package
Our client is large engineering Contractor who operate predominately in the water industry, designing and building major treatment plants. They are delivering a number of water and wastewater non-infrastructure projects for Southern Water and they are recruiting for a Buyer or Senior Buyer for one of their flagship projects near Southampton.
You will be responsible for delivering procurement activities across the project which will include sourcing materials, negotiating terms, placing of orders, managing supplier relationships and ensuring timely delivery of goods and services to support the project. The role plays a critical part in cost control, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
You will be instrumental in:
Sourcing Materials and Services:Leading procurement activities ensuring best value, innovation, and cost efficiencies.
Supporting Project Demands:Providing procurement support to meet increased workload and ensure timely, compliant sourcing.
Enhancing Supplier Relationships:Building strong partnerships to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Driving Consistency: Aligning all procurement practices with company and client policies and procedures.
Responsibilities will include:
Key Responsibilities
Collaborate with project managers, engineers, and site teams to understand procurement needs.
Support the development of project procurement strategies/plans.
Lead tender processes, including ITTs/RFQs and evaluations.
Place orders with suppliers and expedite deliveries to meet project timelines.
Analyse market trends and risks to inform sourcing decisions.
Lead negotiations with suppliers to establish commercial terms, service levels (including KPIs), and contractual conditions.
Manage committed project costs to mitigate financial risk and minimise business exposure.
Establish and maintain supplier relationships, resolving supply and service issues.
Ensure supplier compliance with Health & Safety obligations.
Address and resolve internal and external supply chain issues, acting as the primary escalation point.
Promote sustainable procurement aligned with business values and ESG objectives.
Maintain and optimise the P2P system, ensuring clean and accurate data.
Support internal and external audits.
Prepare regional level reports on procurement performance.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience:
Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across functions, suppliers, and stakeholders.
Customer-centric approach to procurement delivery.
Self-starter with the confidence to represent the Procurement function independently.
Commercially astute with a solid understanding of cost drivers and risk.
Skilled in networking and exerting positive business influence.
Committed to ethical procurement practices in line with the CIPS Ethical Policy.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with a proven track record of effective use.
Demonstrates and champions the company's core values and behaviours.
Desirable:
CIPS qualified or actively working towards certification.
Qualification in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics, Procurement, or a related field.
Developing knowledge of construction materials, logistics, and relevant regulatory standards.
Familiarity with ISO standards, ESG compliance, and ethical sourcing practices.
Experience in regulated industries such as utilities, construction, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, or food