Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer – Procurement
Contract – 12 Months maternity cover contract
Location: (Hybrid – 2 days in office required). This role can be based out of a client office in either Manchester, Motherwell, or London.
Rate: £45-53 per hour DOE (Inside IR35/ Umbrella)
Security Clearance: The successful candidate will need to be able to obtain a minimum of SC level clearance which means they will need to be a sole British national due to projects in nuclear and defence.
Start Date: ASAP
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior Buyer to join a well-established procurement and supply chain function on a 12-month maternity cover contract.
This role will support a wide range of complex engineering and infrastructure projects across sectors including Nuclear, Defence, Power, and Life Sciences. The successful candidate will work closely with internal project teams, consultants, contractors, and suppliers to deliver procurement and commercial objectives effectively.
An overlap period with the current incumbent is planned to ensure a smooth handover.
The Role
Key responsibilities will include:
* Managing procurement activities across multiple projects and stakeholders
* Supporting sourcing strategies, supplier engagement, and contract negotiations
* Drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts, particularly NEC forms
* Advising project teams on procurement best practice and contract management
* Working collaboratively with commercial, planning, and project control teams
* Supporting supplier performance and supply chain management activities
* Ensuring compliance with UK procurement and finance legislation
Requirements
To be considered, candidates should have:
* Significant experience within procurement or supply chain roles in construction, engineering, infrastructure, or a related industry
* Strong working knowledge of UK standard forms of contract, particularly NEC4 PSC
* Experience drafting, negotiating, and administering contracts
* Good understanding of UK procurement and finance legislation
* MCIPS qualification (or currently working towards)
* Relevant degree qualification or equivalent industry experience
* Experience using COINS software (desirable)
Additional Information
* Hybrid working arrangement with 3 days from home and 2 office days per week in Manchester/Motherwell/ or London.
* Full right to work in the UK is essential and ability to obtain SC level clearance
If you are an experienced procurement professional looking for your next contract opportunity within a complex project environment, we would love to hear from you.
Please note: Candidates will require existing eligibility to work in the UK to be considered for this role