Senior Buyer

Network Rail is seeking a motivated and capable individual to join the Procurement & Commercial team as a Senior Buyer within the Great Western Route due to a promotion within Network Rail. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering procurement strategies across a diverse portfolio of goods, services and works.

The team supports the Great Western Route across a wide spectrum of procurement activity, providing procurement expertise, commercial support and routes-to-market advice to stakeholders across the business. You will support the development and delivery of sourcing and contracting strategies, frameworks and tendering activities, while identifying opportunities to improve procurement outcomes and deliver greater value.

The role offers the opportunity to broaden and further develop existing procurement and commercial experience across stakeholder engagement, supplier management, commercial decision-making and sourcing delivery. A key focus will be building on existing procurement arrangements, driving continuous improvement and supporting better business outcomes across the Great Western Route.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to further develop leadership experience through coaching and mentoring a direct report, helping to create a positive, supportive and high-performing team environment. Working within an evolving procurement landscape, the role provides valuable exposure to the practical application of the Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations. You will help ensure procurement activities are delivered in line with legislative, policy and governance requirements, while building capability for future career progression within Procurement & Commercial.

This role reports to the Senior Procurement Manager, Great Western Route, and is based in Swindon.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and implement individual project and steady state contracting strategy proposals including preparation and evaluation of tender documents and negotiation of contracts.
• Provide post contract commercial management support for a range of contracts.
• Provide dedicated support to senior staff in respect of individual projects and/or contract/commercial issues, including 'rapid response' to potential contract disputes.
• Target specific goods, services and/or suppliers to identify how tangible improvements may be made in the procurement of these goods and services.
• Undertake regular contract management meetings with key stakeholders and suppliers to monitor whether maximum value was delivered via contract.
• Manage responsibilities for endorsements and approval of contract variations.
• Provide all services to programme/project teams in a timely and cost effective manner and contribute positively towards the achievement of programme/project objectives.