Senior Buyer

About The Role

Amidst building amazing infrastructure, incredible careers are fostered here. Join Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution team as a Senior Buyer
, based from our Maxim Park office in Motherwell, Scotland
. You will help deliver critical infrastructure that powers communities across the region.

At Balfour Beatty Power T&D, you will take full ownership of complex procurement activities, ensure robust risk management, and provide clear, insightful reporting to senior leadership teams at both project and business unit levels. Your leadership will help shape the future of Scotland’s OHL business and support the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions.

• Mentor, coach, and develop a team of buyers and junior buyers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support team members in achieving their goals.
• Lead by example, demonstrating best practices in procurement and stakeholder management.
• Take full ownership of high-value and high-risk procurement activities, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry best practice.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies for major projects, aligning with business objectives and risk appetite.
• Oversee procurement schedules, ensuring integration with project timelines and delivery milestones.
• Lead supplier negotiations, evaluations, and risk management for critical contracts.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships focused on value, quality, and innovation.
• Oversee the end-to-end tendering process, including issuing ITTs, bid evaluation, and contract award for high-impact packages.
• Ensure robust management of subcontractor performance, addressing underperformance and escalating risks as required.
• Prepare and deliver high-quality reports and presentations on procurement performance, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership teams at project and business unit levels.
• Provide commercial insight and recommendations to inform strategic decision making.
• Act as the key procurement representative in project reviews, steering groups, and business unit meetings.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely delivery of materials and services.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, leveraging data and feedback to enhance efficiency and value.
• Resolve complex supplier queries and, if necessary, elevate unresolved issues to senior management.

• Strong analytical skills and a demonstrated ability to resolve complex challenges and present well‑grounded insights.
• Leadership capability with experience in managing teams, performance, and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable presenting procurement insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Experience in NEC Subcontract and commercial processes, with a strong track record in negotiation and contract management.
• Proficiency in e‑tendering platforms, procurement tools, and documentation standards.
• Significant procurement experience in Utilities or Construction, managing both materials suppliers and subcontractors.
• Relevant business degree, MCIPS qualification (or intent to pursue), or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to travel within Scotland and across the UK for supplier visits and project/team meetings.

• Smart working with flexible staggered start and finish times, up to 40% remote working where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family‑friendly policies providing 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partner’s leave.
• Pension, share‑incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and more.

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and ongoing maintenance, our in‑house experts, flexible resources and industry‑leading innovations support customers in developing some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of identity or background. For more detail visit