Serco Plc
Senior Buyer
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Senior Buyer
Location: Flexible / Hybrid – attached to Solihull, London or Hook
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 PA
Make an impact where it matters
At Serco, procurement is about much more than buying goods and services. It's about creating value, building strong supplier partnerships and ensuring our operations have everything they need to deliver essential public services.
We're looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to join our Procurement team, supporting a diverse category covering waste management, clinical and hazardous waste, secure waste disposal, containers, and environmental services. You'll play a key role in delivering strategic sourcing projects, managing supplier relationships, and driving commercial value across a complex, highly regulated spend area.
If you're commercially minded, enjoy negotiating with suppliers, and thrive in a collaborative environment, we'd love to hear from you.
What you'll be doing
As Senior Buyer, you'll lead sourcing activity across your category, working closely with stakeholders to understand business requirements and deliver procurement solutions that provide value, reduce risk, and support operational excellence.
You'll:
- Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, typically valued above £250k, from strategy through to contract award.
- Support the delivery of larger, complex procurement initiatives alongside Category Managers.
- Develop sourcing strategies and run competitive tender processes using RFx methodologies.
- Negotiate commercial terms and contracts to achieve the best value for Serco.
- Analyse markets, identify new suppliers, and carry out supplier due diligence.
- Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and key suppliers.
- Drive supplier performance, continuous improvement, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with procurement governance, policies, and delegated authorities.
- Produce procurement documentation, governance papers, and savings reports.
- Support and mentor Buyers across the Procurement team where required.
- Contribute to category planning and share market insight and best practice across the wider Procurement function.
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What you'll bring
We're looking for someone who combines strong commercial acumen with excellent stakeholder management skills.
You'll ideally have:
- Previous procurement experience, ideally within waste management, environmental services, facilities management, or other indirect procurement categories.
- Experience delivering end-to-end sourcing and tender projects.
- Strong commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
- Knowledge of English contract law and experience negotiating contractual terms.
- An understanding of category management and strategic sourcing principles.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make informed commercial decisions.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- Confidence using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with experience of procurement systems or eSourcing platforms being advantageous.
- Degree-level education or CIPS qualification (or working towards) is desirable.
Why Serco?
At Serco, you'll work on procurement projects that directly support the delivery of critical public services across the UK and beyond. You'll be part of an experienced procurement function that encourages collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development.
In return, we offer:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Company pension
- Life assurance
- Employee discounts and wellbeing support
- Career development and professional qualifications, including CIPS support where appropriate
- The opportunity to work on strategic, high-value procurement projects with real operational impact
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About Serco
At Serco, we bring together the right people, technology, and partners to solve some of the world's most complex challenges. Every day, our colleagues deliver services that improve the lives of millions of people across defence, justice, transport, healthcare, and citizen services.
Join us and help shape smarter procurement that delivers better outcomes for our customers, our business, and the communities we serve.
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 recruitmentuk@serco.com.
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
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