Project Buyer

Hays Procurement is proud to be working in partnership with the University of Cambridge who are looking to appoint a Project Buyer in an exciting new role for the organisation.

The University of Cambridge is one of the world's oldest and most successful Universities, with an outstanding reputation for academic achievement and research. Capitalising on its exemption under Public Contract Regulations 2015, the University has truly ambitious plans for the Procurement function. Procurement and purchasing at the University of Cambridge is about to embark upon transformational change through a three to five year programme of activity - the Strategic Procurement and Purchasing Programme. This will focus on how the University, its associated bodies and stakeholders can better buy and pay for its goods, works and services in the most sustainable manner possible.

The Project Buyer is responsible for working with the University's Strategic Projects Office to deliver third-party spend needs for major projects - particularly capital works - of strategic importance across the institution, ranging in value from several thousands to several millions of pounds. Liaising between a diverse set of stakeholders, the Project Buyer works with a view to meeting niche requirements whilst ensuring value-for-money, compliance and mitigating risk to the University.

The Project Buyer aims to identify and understand the needs of the project, offer advice on suppliers, act as key point of expertise during the tender or dispensation-from-competition process, and see purchases through to completion. This role manages relationships with internal and third-party customers, and with external suppliers, employing excellent coordination skills to ensure a smooth purchasing process for all stakeholders across all aspects of each project.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working in a complex procurement environment, ideally in both the public and private sectors. You will be able to demonstrate experience of building strong relationships internally with customers and externally with suppliers to enable the delivery of objectives. Experience of letting / tendering one-off high value agreements and frameworks with suppliers to generate savings and efficiencies is highly desirable with the ability to manage the implementation of contracts a pre-requisite. A Bachelor's degree is required with CIPS level 4 qualification an advantage but not essential.

This is an exciting time to join the University of Cambridge and if you feel you have the drive and the passion to help them to achieve their objectives, then they can offer you a role that is not only hugely satisfying but brings great benefits and a stimulating and supportive working environment. In return, The University of Cambridge are offering a competitive salary, excellent benefits such as 36 days annual leave, a generous pension scheme and the opportunity to be office-based for 3-4 days per week.

For more information about the role and organisation please visit: https://web/university-of-cambridge/ or for an informal discussion please contact William Warren, Senior Business Director at Hays Procurement who is the retained consultant working in partnership with the University of Cambridge. All third party & direct applicants will be forwarded directly to Hays Procurement to be screened as part of the recruitment process.