Our client operating in the UK defence sector has an open requirement for a Senior Buyer to join them on a contract basis starting as soon as possible and running until the end of August 2025 – although further extensions may be possible. This is a strictly inside IR35 contract offering a rate of £50 per hour PAYE basic (equivalent umbrella rate is around £66 per hour).
The role will be based out of an office in Dorset, UK. Full time hours apply and some remote working is available but Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday must be office based. There is no negotiability on this. A description is given below, but candidates must possess experience in the defence and/or electronic industries. Candidates with existing SC clearance would be highly desirable but not essential for applications. Candidates must however be eligible to obtain this.
Job Purpose
The Senior Buyer will operate as part of the Vigilant Procurement & Supply Chain team supporting the Procurement Manager in establishing the project procurement mechanics.
Responsibilities
- Work with Procurement and Supply Chain team members, cross-functional stakeholders (e.g. representatives from Quality, Project Management, Engineering and Finance) and suppliers to ensure the timely implementation of Procurement processes relating to the selection, evaluation and approval of new suppliers, and reassessment of existing suppliers.
- Use of very good business acumen, external environment analysis, supplier intelligence and vulnerability assessments to make risk-based recommendations on the suitability of suppliers for the line of business.
- Know how to operate within the governance framework. Ensure the requirements of EN9100 are met and supplier approval decisions can stand the scrutiny of internal and external audit.
- Provide advice on relevant Procurement policies to non-Procurement staff making the case for the added value of these processes.
- Implementation of supplier management and development techniques, taking responsibility to address instances of under-performance both internally and externally to the line of business.
- Participation in cross-functional site assessments of suppliers, identifying potential risks and opportunities for improvement, and following up on actions.
- Identification, monitoring and support to mitigation of supplier risks and opportunities, such as responsible trading, financial insolvency, cyber security, business continuity and product safety competence of suppliers.
- Oversee work allocation of direct report(s) to ensure that critical infrastructure is kept accurate and topical. Manage quality of direct report(s)’ work.
- Seek out opportunities for continuous improvement, including automation, process improvement.
Senior Buyer - Experience Requirements
- Understand the need to engage with senior management or specialist support as and when appropriate in order to report, obtain final authorisation of new suppliers from senior management, highlight and escalate issues.
- Will have an in-depth understanding of how Procurement and Supply Chain co-ordinates its efforts and resources with other functions to achieve shared objectives.
- In-depth understanding of the legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, and priorities and governance for area of responsibility.
- Understands the line of business’ strategy and priorities, to deliver procurement support that best meets them.
- Knowledge of UK Defence Sector and its supply chain - recognise key players in market.
- Knowledge of MoD procurement processes.
- Understands when and how matters should be formally escalated for wider awareness and input.
- Active listening, use of persuasion methods, use of tactics and influence to help generate positive outcomes.
Senior Buyer - Technical Skills/Knowledge
- Able to adapt approach to ensure decisions support an optimised business outcome, whilst considering stakeholder relationships.
- Able to communicate and influence across the immediate team and able to influence wider stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Able to deal with all scenarios when dealing with Procurement and Supply Chain activities.
- Contributes to group workshops and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Prioritising workload and communicating this to stakeholders when required.
- Accuracy and attention to detail essential.
- Comfortable with addressing poor performance and handling difficult people.
- A proactive approach to solving problems, guiding cross-functional stakeholders to make informed decisions based on risk and opportunity analysis, business acumen, knowledge, experience and total cost of acquisition principles.
- A focus on developing solutions to complex problems, actively contributing to the development of process improvements and efficiencies.