Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer (IT / Regulated Procurement)
Contract: 6 months initial (strong likelihood of extension)
Rate: £550per day via umbrella (Inside IR35)
Location: Predominantly remote, with occasional travel to Warwick as needed

About the Role

We're recruiting for an experienced Senior Buyer to join a collaborative, high‑performing procurement team within a large, complex and regulated organisation. This is a level 7 equivalent contractor role, backfilling a team member on secondment, and offers a flexible mix of strategic sourcing activity and day‑to‑day procurement support.

Rather than owning one major programme, this role provides senior‑level contribution across a varied procurement workload - supporting tender activity where required, handling complex ad‑hoc requests, and helping the wider team embed and interpret Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) requirements.

It's well suited to someone who enjoys autonomy, problem‑solving, and being a trusted commercial partner, without the pressure of a single headline project.

Key Responsibilities

You'll work closely with a Category Manager and fellow buyers to support delivery across a broad procurement agenda, including:

Supporting and, where appropriate, leading RFPs and tender events
Managing and progressing ad‑hoc procurement requests of varying value and complexity
Working closely with stakeholders to understand demand and commercial requirements
Supporting the interpretation and practical application of Procurement Act 2023
Preparing for and leading commercial negotiations, including redlining supplier contracts
Analysing bids and making clear commercial recommendations
Applying total cost of ownership thinking to sourcing decisions
Acting as a commercial bridge between stakeholders, suppliers, legal and procurement colleagues
Building and maintaining strong supplier relationships
Contributing to continuous improvement across procurement processes and ways of workingKey Skills & Experience

Proven experience in a senior‑level procurement or strategic sourcing role
Strong commercial and contract negotiation capability
Experience drafting, reviewing or amending supplier contracts
Confident stakeholder engagement across technical and non‑technical teams
Ability to work independently in a fast‑moving, changeable environment
Willingness to learn and engage with Procurement Act 2023 (prior experience helpful but not essential)
IT procurement experience or an IT commercial background
Experience working in a regulated environment
Familiarity with procurement systems such as Coupa and SAP Ariba
Experience managing multiple workstreams or projects simultaneouslyPlease note: Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, unfortunately, your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we may retain your details for any future suitable vacancies and contact you accordingly.

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention