Buyer

Description:

Job Title: Tactical Sourcing & Procurement Buyer

Location: Southampton & Portsmouth (base in Southampton with supporting travel/presence in Portsmouth and local depots)

Working Pattern: 4 days per week (30-37.5 hours per week options; 8:00-17:00 core operational hours) Hybrid (Initial focus on 4 days on-site in Southampton/Portsmouth during onboarding, moving to 2 days on-site / 2 days working from home)

Role Summary

We are seeking an active, proactive, and commercial Buyer to join our Procurement and Supply Chain management team. Operating across key highways maintenance, public realm, and framework contracts in Southampton and Portsmouth, you will take full operational accountability for end-to-end tactical procurement across direct categories, including materials, plant, subcontracts, and equipment. This is a dynamic, hands-on role where stakeholder presence and proactive collaboration across both contract areas are vital. You will oversee supply chain onboarding, run competitive tender processes for upcoming schemes, manage requisition approvals, and build lasting, collaborative relationships across multi-functional operational and commercial teams.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Procurement: Develop and execute package-specific sourcing plans across Southampton and Portsmouth schemes, run competitive tenders (RFQ/ITT), evaluate bids, and make award recommendations taking total cost of ownership into account.
Requisition & Process Management: Oversee and approve contract requisitions, ensuring strict compliance with business governance, commercial risk limits, and procurement procedures.
Supply Chain Onboarding & Performance: Lead pre-qualification, due diligence, and financial health checks for supply chain partners. Drive continuous improvement through regular supplier reviews and performance monitoring.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Build strong, trust-based relationships across project management, operations, HSEQS, commercial, and senior leadership teams across both depots/contracts.
Cost Optimisation: Track day-to-day spend, identify value-for-money opportunities, and report cost savings/avoidance across direct spend categories.

Essential Skills & Attributes:

Proactive Communicator: A confident, articulate "doer" who thrives in stakeholder-heavy environments and is comfortable challenging and influencing colleagues at all levels.
Procurement Experience: Solid understanding of running end-to-end sourcing projects from market research through to contract and supplier management.
Commercial & Analytical Aptitude: Numerically astute with sound analytical skills, commercial awareness, and good attention to detail.
Technical & System Skills: Strong IT literacy, including advanced Excel skills.
Mobility: Full UK Driver's Licence (preferred to facilitate travel between Southampton, Portsmouth, and satellite depots).

Desirable Qualifications & Experience:

Industry Background: Prior experience in civil engineering, highways maintenance, or Tier 1/2 construction is highly advantageous (candidates with transferable procurement skills from other fast-paced sectors are also encouraged to apply).
Qualifications: CIPS accreditation or NVQ in Supply Chain/Procurement is preferred but not required.
Platforms: Knowledge of e-procurement portals (e.g., Jaggaer) or ERP systems (e.g., Oracle R12).

Working Environment & Benefits

Flexible Contract Structure: Opportunity for a structured 4-day working week.
Hybrid Flexibility: Balanced hybrid pattern offering office collaboration and home-working flexibility once fully established.
Professional Support: Work closely with the wider procurement management team, gaining valuable exposure to long-term regional infrastructure contracts.

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business