Technical Buyer

Role purpose

The Technical Buyer runs the day-to-day procurement and buying process for assigned technical material categories – for example mechanical, piping, electrical, structural and instrumentation equipment – on our Energy (Gas, Carbon Capture, Compressors, Data Centres) and Water (Clean Water, Wastewater, MEICA) projects, under the direction of the Technical Procurement Manager. The role executes the full enquiry-to-purchase-order cycle, working closely with suppliers, expediters and the wider project team to ensure materials are procured on time, to specification and within budget.

Key responsibilities

Technical review and specification support

• Review technical drawings, scopes of work and specifications for assigned material categories to prepare accurate, complete enquiry packages.

• Support technical and commercial bid evaluation by collating, checking and benchmarking supplier quotations for compliance, cost and delivery against specification.

• Raise technical or commercial queries identified during the buying process with the Technical Procurement Manager and relevant engineering/technical contacts.

Procurement execution

• Prepare and issue RFQs/tenders to approved suppliers for assigned material categories, managing supplier queries and clarifications throughout the enquiry period.

• Support material take-offs and maintain procurement/delivery schedules and trackers for assigned packages, flagging any risk to programme or budget to the Technical Procurement Manager.

• Place and maintain purchase orders within delegated authority, in line with company procedures and the relevant form of contract (e.g. NEC or equivalent), escalating anything outside authority limits.

• Negotiate commercial terms for standard, lower-value or lower-complexity packages, escalating major or complex negotiations to the Technical Procurement Manager.

Supply chain and quality support

• Liaise with suppliers throughout manufacture to track progress and confirm materials are being produced to the agreed technical requirements and programme.

• Liaise with Procurement Expeditors to ensure that they have the necessary information to complete their tasks

• Support, or carry out as directed, supplier/factory audits and inspections, reporting findings to the Technical Procurement Manager.

• Monitor delivery and quality performance for assigned categories, escalating risks or non-conformances promptly.

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Stakeholder coordination

• Act as the day-to-day procurement point of contact for assigned categories, liaising with engineering, commercial, SHEQ, construction/operations and logistics as required.

• Maintain accurate procurement records, trackers and reporting inputs to support the Technical Procurement Manager's reporting to stakeholders.

• Build and maintain positive, professional working relationships with suppliers within assigned categories.

Person specification

Essential

• Demonstrable experience as a buyer or procurement coordinator within a technical, engineering or major projects environment [confirm minimum years, e.g. 2–4 years].

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications and scopes of work for material components, or a strong aptitude and willingness to develop this skill.

• Experience running RFQ/tender processes and raising purchase orders in line with company procedures.

• Good negotiation and supplier-management skills, with the confidence to manage day-to-day supplier relationships.

• Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple purchase orders and competing deadlines.

• Good communication skills, comfortable liaising across technical, commercial and operational teams.

• Proficient using standard office and procurement/ERP systems to process orders, maintain schedules and update trackers.

Desirable

• Experience procuring within relevant categories (e.g. mechanical, piping, electrical, structural, instrumentation) [confirm against current project types].

• Exposure to FEED, EPC or EPCM project delivery environments.

• Working towards, or holding, a relevant procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS).

• Working knowledge of SHEQ requirements relevant to materials procurement and supplier manufacture.

• Experience supporting supplier/factory quality audits.

What we offer

• Pension, professional development support

• The opportunity to develop a technical procurement career within a supportive team, working on complex, high-value material packages across major Energy and Water projects.

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.