Senior Buyer

Unite Foundation; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading provider of student accommodation seeks a Senior Buyer to enhance procurement strategies. This role involves managing suppliers, optimizing performance, and ensuring value for money. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and commercial skills, alongside a strong desire to learn within procurement. You'll be part of a diverse and inclusive team focused on creating positive environments for students and employees alike. Join us to contribute to our procurement transformation and make a lasting impact.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus

25 days paid holiday plus additional days

Generous pension scheme

Healthcare Cash Plan

Enhanced family leave

Employee Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Strong ability to influence stakeholders and suppliers successfully.
• Expertise in delivering value through various means.
• Prioritization of work to meet deadlines and targets.
• Ability to perform analysis and draw out conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Create a category plan in support of the procurement transformation plan.
• Maintain excellent customer relationships for fast problem-solving.
• Manage sourcing processes including tenders and negotiations.
• Provide expert contractual and commercial advice.

Skills

Strong written and verbal communication

Commercial skills

Accountability

Analytical skills

Technical knowledge of procurement processes

Customer-focused behavior

Motivation to learn and develop

Job description

Unite Students has an amazing opportunity for a Senior Buyer in our growing Procurement team.

Reporting to the Head of FM Procurement, the role will provide professional procurement advice and support across the areas of Soft FM, small capex and Business Services (Office, Travel etc). Ensuring value for money through strategic sourcing and competitive tendering, driving category strategy and fostering effective supplier and operational relationships to optimise performance and minimise supply chain risk

What You`ll Be Doing

• Create a category plan in support of the company`s procurement transformation plan.
• The categories in particular focus are: Operationally focussed services such as waste collection & security services, high volume goods provision (including white goods, fixed and loose furniture, mattresses, small electrical. Operational spares and products including janitorial, stationery and uniform
• The role will work closely with the Head of Procurement - FM to ensure supply chain efficiencies are harnessed
• Maintain excellent customer relationships with operation and regional estates frontline and leadership teams to enable fast problem solving and `one-team` mentality
• Maintain major contractual agreements and agree commercials, supporting our city team stakeholders
• Formulate strategies across accountable categories in conjunction with key stakeholders
• Manage sourcing processes (including tenders, RFQs, negotiations) for accountable categories
• Provide expert contractual and commercial advice to the team and business stakeholders
• Long term assessment of supply options and resilience planning
• Actively contributing to the Unite Students ESG goals by listening to our suppliers and developing sustainable procurement strategies
• Demonstrating market expertise to enable innovation
• Ability to build relationships and rapport regardless of individual or level
• A `customer-first mindset` to ensure the supply requirements of the business are fully understood

What We`re Looking for in You

• Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication, able to influence stakeholders and suppliers alike and achieve negotiate successfully
• Commercial skills: able to identify what is important and how it contributes to the success of our business and to that of our suppliers, delivering value through a variety of means
• Accountability: Able to prioritize work, meet deadlines and targets
• Analytical Skills: A curious individual, with strong problem solving skills and techniques. Able to understand and carry out analysis and draw out conclusions
• Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of Procurement processes, specifically Supplier Relationship Management and Contracts Management is desirable
• Team/Customer Focus: Demonstrates customer-first behaviour
• Motivation: Strong desire to learn and develop in the Procurement/Supply Chain areas

What You`ll Get in Return

• A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
• A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
• Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 23 leading university towns and cities, with 70,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.