Senior Buyer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 18, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 12, 2026. Serco scores A on the Alion truth index.
Senior Buyer - IT Procurement
Location: Home-based with travel required to support business and stakeholder needs across the UK, including regular visits to our Homer Road, Solihull and London, Cardinal Place offices.
Salary: up to £55,000 DOE
Make an Impact Where It Matters
We're looking for a highly motivated Senior Buyer to join our IT Procurement team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to lead strategic sourcing activities, deliver commercial value, and support key business stakeholders across a diverse and complex organisation.
Reporting to the Head of IT Procurement, you'll play a critical role in managing procurement projects, negotiating contracts, engaging suppliers, and driving continuous improvement across the IT supply chain. You'll work closely with category managers, business stakeholders, and suppliers to ensure best value, effective risk management, and successful procurement outcomes.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead and deliver procurement projects valued at over £250k, ensuring compliance with procurement governance and sourcing processes.
- Support Category Managers in delivering larger, complex procurement projects exceeding £1m.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned to business and category objectives.
- Run end-to-end RFx processes, including documentation, supplier engagement, evaluation, negotiation, and contract award.
- Conduct market analysis and supplier due diligence to identify and secure best-value solutions.
- Negotiate commercial terms and contracts to maximise value and mitigate risk.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers.
- Support supplier performance improvement and continuous value delivery initiatives.
- Produce procurement governance documentation and maintain accurate pipeline reporting.
- Drive procurement best practice, compliance, and continuous improvement across the business.
- Mentor and support Buyers in the successful delivery of procurement activities.
What You'll Bring
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience, ideally with a business-related qualification.
- CIPS qualified or working towards CIPS accreditation.
- Minimum of 4 years' procurement experience within a commercial or corporate environment.
- Strong understanding of category management, strategic sourcing, and contract management principles.
- Experience leading sourcing activities and contract negotiations.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong analytical capabilities and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Resilient, proactive, and able to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to quickly learn new systems and tools.
- Experience using eSourcing platforms is advantageous.
Why Join Us?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative and high-performing procurement function where you'll have the autonomy to lead projects, influence key business decisions, and contribute to strategic procurement initiatives across a national organisation. You'll be supported in your professional development while working on high-value, business-critical procurement activities.
Ready to take the next step in your procurement career? We'd love to hear from you.
Benefits
- Pension 6% employer matched
- Annual leave 25 days + bank holidays
- Life assurance 2x base salary if in pension, (1x if not)
- Flexible working to support work-life balance
Other notable benefits:
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 30% Serco Leisure Centre Discount
- Option to buy additional leave
- Charitable payroll giving
- A wide range of discounts
A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.
Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
- Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
- Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).
For support with your application, please contact [email protected].
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.