Operational Buyer

Role Purpose:

You will manage operational procurement for multi-site contracts. The role will be part of the Procurement team, where you will collaborate with the Heads of Procurement and Category Leads and other Operational Buyers to ensure we deliver a robust supply chain solution to effectively deliver facility management excellence to our customers, colleagues, supply chain and for the communities in which we operate within.

This role will be embedded into the procurement team and will be responsible for all supply chain and procurement activity across multiple contracts within the business portfolio. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the operational point of contact for procurement and supply chain matters on your allocated contract(s), providing advice and support to stakeholders and representing Procurement at contract and operational review meetings where required.
• Ensure all procurement activity is aligned to business objectives, Account Sourcing Plans (ASPs) and procurement best practice, delivering compliant and commercially sound outcomes.
• Develop and maintain Account Sourcing Plans (ASPs) in collaboration with operational teams, taking ownership of agreed sourcing activities to deliver targeted commercial and operational outcomes.
• Drive compliance with the Preferred Supplier List (PSL) and wider procurement policies by managing new supplier requests, identifying sourcing opportunities and working with operational teams to achieve procurement and commercial targets, maximising savings and benefit realisation in line with the agreed benefits methodology. Promote supplier-led innovation and present opportunities to stakeholders that enhance service delivery, revenue and margin performance.
• Deliver measurable cost savings, cost reductions and VRD discount opportunities through effective supplier negotiation, sourcing decisions and contract management, in line with agreed procurement targets and demonstrating tangible benefits to both the business and its customers.
• Support a risk-based approach to supplier tendering, selection and award, undertaking commercial analysis and supplier negotiations to ensure that tender assumptions and caveats are appropriately managed, the most suitable commercial and pricing model is adopted, and KPIs, SLAs and programme risks are effectively negotiated and aligned with supply chain contractual commitments.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance procurement processes and service delivery, working with stakeholders to gather feedback, resolve issues and contribute to the delivery of account procurement plans.
• Continuously analyse market trends, supplier performance and cost structures to identify risks and opportunities for improvement and implement risk mitigation strategies to protect service delivery, cost and quality objectives. 
• Collaborate with Category teams to develop and maintain relationships with specialist suppliers, addressing product, service and geographical coverage gaps while supporting business growth opportunities. Ensure the supply chain is appropriately accredited, commercially competitive and capable of delivering value for money across all account requirements.
• Plan the account sourcing plan review cycle in line with business priorities, risk, contract expiry dates and spend analysis, ensuring sourcing activity is scheduled and delivered proactively.
• Manage and report on account/contract supply chain KPIs and SLAs, escalating performance issues to the Head of Procurement where required.
• Support the annual PPM contract renewals process for allocated accounts/contracts, including benchmarking and tendering activity, to deliver value for money and benefit realisation.
• Provide procurement input into client bid and mobilisation activity at the appropriate stage, supporting consideration of cost, supplier selection and quality requirements.

Essential:

• Proven experience in an Operational Buyer, procurement or supply chain role, ideally within Facilities Management or a related service industry.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, presentation and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across operational and supply chain teams.
• Proven experience delivering cost savings, value improvements and procurement targets.
• Ability to identify, assess and manage risk throughout the procurement and contract management process.
• Highest levels of integrity, with a genuine passion for procurement and supply chain best practice.
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional and operational teams.
• Valid full UK driving licence, with a willingness to travel to sites and supply chain partners across the UK, including occasional overnight stays.

Desirable:

• MCIPS qualified or working towards MCIPS.
•  Working knowledge of sustainable procurement principles.
• Good IT skills across Microsoft platforms, including Power BI.