Buyer - 12 month FTC

About the role

Shape the future with us

Our forward-thinking approach is transforming the industry and preparing communities for tomorrow's challenges. Join our Procurement team as a Buyer within the Living Places Business Unit, where your contributions will make a meaningful impact you can take pride in.

This role involves supporting a range of highways maintenance, SCAPE, and public realm contracts, and while travel to stakeholder depots is expected, we offer flexibility regarding your base location.

This is 12 month Fixed term contract

What you'll be doing

Key Responsibilities include:

• Work closely with supply chain to ensure earliest possible involvement within the contracts
• Using the Jaggaer e-procurement portal, development, and governance of package specific sourcing plans with project team, including RFIs/RFQs/RFPs.
• Evaluation of tender responses to compile award recommendations for approval, talking account of the total value of ownership
• Maximise value for money and margin improvement opportunities across a range of direct categories, tracking, reporting on and managing day to day cost savings and cost avoidance
• Co-ordination, governance, and maintenance of Procurement Schedules, in conjunction with Commercial teams
• Carrying out due diligence, financial and commercial checks for supply partners in accordance with business governance
• Process requisition orders and raise Purchase Orders in line with company procedures and delegated levels of authorities and expedite as required
• Collaborate with suppliers and project team to assist with the resolution of supply issues as and when required, escalating as required
• Monitor the supply market to identify potential new suppliers and products and lead meetings with suppliers to understand their products and the category market, keeping abreast of market developments, demand trends and risks to proactively support the project requirements
• To support the delivery of Business and Group policies and our ambitions around sustainability, environmental, D&I and innovation programme, working proactively and collaboratively with supply chain to progress and maximize opportunity

Who we're looking for

The following qualities/experience are required:

• An understanding of how to run end to end procurement projects from market research, through sourcing, to contract and supplier management
• Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against bid / project milestones
• Prior exposure to negotiating commercial deals and contractual terms and conditions
• Analytical, numerically astute with well-developed problem-solving abilities
• Awareness of commercial and financial risks and how to manage them
• Robust problem-solving skills, ability to use own initiative to identify areas of improvement and propose solutions
• Knowledge of the construction/civils market would be an advantage, but applicants from other sectors are also encouraged to apply if they have relevant experience in the procurement function
• Experience of Oracle R12 or other ERP systems and Jaggaer e-procurement platforms advantageous; however, training can be provided if applicant has no experience of these

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.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

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. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture 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 encourage 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. For more info, visit:

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:

Job Reference: BBUK15883