Overview
Senior Buyer – Aberdeen
Job Description
The Procurement and Supply Chain Management function is responsible for the interface with those third-party organisations who support our business whether that be for procurement of goods and services or the relationship management that underpins any such activities. They support project delivery teams across the sectors to ensure the strategic direction is identified and delivered.
The Senior Buyer is a pivotal role within the Procurement and Supply Chain team, responsible for overseeing the procurement of essential materials, equipment, and services required for the successful execution of projects. This role ensures that all procurement activities are conducted in a cost-effective, timely, and efficient manner, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and compliance.
The Senior Buyer collaborates closely with the operational and commercial teams, and suppliers to secure the best possible value, thereby contributing to the overall success and profitability of the projects. This position demands strong negotiation skills, and a thorough understanding of the civil engineering industry to effectively manage supply chains and mitigate risks
This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the sector, driving efficiency, sustainability, and innovation within the procurement and supply chain functions.
Responsibilities
- Support the Project teams and Procurement Manager to deliver the project, procurement, and supply chain objectives
- Implementation of procurement strategies that align with project goals and company objectives
- Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with suppliers to ensure reliable supply chains and negotiate favourable terms
- Monitor and control procurement costs, ensuring budget adherence and identifying cost-saving opportunities
- Ensure all procured materials and services meet the required quality standards and specifications
- Identify and mitigate risks associated with procurement activities, including supply chain disruptions and price volatility
- Oversee inventory levels to ensure materials are available when needed without excessive stockpiling
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies
- Conduct market research and analysis to stay informed about industry trends, pricing, and new products or services that could benefit Costain
- Regularly assess supplier performance and implement improvement plans to enhance supplier reliability and quality
Qualifications
Essential
- Significant experience in procurement, preferably within the civil engineering or construction industry
- Proficiency in procurement software and tools, strong understanding of supply chain management principles
- Excellent negotiation and contract management skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills to manage supplier relationships and collaborate with internal teams
- High attention to detail to ensure accuracy in procurement processes and documentation
- Full member or working towards the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (min level 5)
Desirable
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Knowledge of the civil engineering sector and its specific procurement needs
- Experience with advanced procurement and inventory management software
- Proven ability to lead and mentor junior procurement staff
- Knowledge of sustainable procurement practices and green supply chain management
- Accredited certifications in procurement or supply chain management
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About Us
Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.
It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
For more details please go to the Disability Confident website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign
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