Category Buyer

About The Role

Are you a commercially minded professional with a passion for procurement and building strong supplier relationships? We are looking for a Category Buyer to join our team and deliver high-quality, value-driven procurement outcomes that help us provide safe, efficient and cost-effective services for our customers. Working closely with the Category Manager, you will deliver strategic sourcing and contract management activity across a range of categories to ensure that goods and services are aligned to business needs and deliver value for money.

• Deliver procurement projects and sourcing activities across a range of spend categories.
• Conduct market research and analyse commercial and financial data to support decision making.
• Lead tendering, supplier negotiations and contract management activities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, stakeholders and colleagues across the business.
• Monitor supplier performance and support the effective management of contract and supply chain risks.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with organisational policies, procedures and relevant legislation.
• Support and develop procurement colleagues within your category team and across procurement

This is an exciting opportunity to build your procurement and commercial career within a supportive team environment. You'll further develop your strategic sourcing, supplier management and analytical skills while gaining exposure to a wide range of procurement projects. The role offers excellent opportunities to broaden your commercial knowledge and contribute to delivering value for customers and the wider business.

This is a full time role working 37 hours per week
.

Hybrid Working is available for this role working 2-3 days in the office dependent on business need. You will be based from our Tewkesbury, Wolverhampton, Exeter or Norwich office.

For further information about this role, and Live West, please view our candidate information pack.

To be successful in your application for the role of Category Buyer
, you will have the essential skills and experience for a level 1 role (please see candidate information pack) and the following role specific skills and experience:

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and manage multiple activities effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Good analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and support commercial decisions.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Professional and detail-focused approach with the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.

• Experience delivering procurement, purchasing or commercial activities.
• Experience working with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Experience analysing information and data to support decision making.
• Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Good understanding of procurement legislation, processes and principles.
• Understanding of supplier relationship and contract management.
• Knowledge of procurement governance and compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with procurement system, ERP, CRM, MRP or similar business systems.

• GCSEs and A Levels, or equivalent qualifications.

• Experience in a similar procurement or commercial role.
• Experience sourcing, tendering or supplier management activities.
• Experience using procurement or purchasing systems.
• Understanding of strategic sourcing methodologies.
• Working towards Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
• Project management and negotiation experience.

Please note, we are unable to provide CoS for this role; therefore, applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of this role without requiring a CoS.

• Working Style:Hybrid working with 2 - 3 days in the office to support your work/life balance.
• Generous Annual Leave:Start with 26…