Network Rail
Senior Buyer
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Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team—you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About The Role
The Eastern Region is made up of four routes:
- Anglia
- East Coast
- East Midlands
- North & East
The region stretches from the Scottish borders along the entire east coast of England, covering the North East, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the East Midlands, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk as well as parts of Greater London.
In total the Eastern Region covers 6,042 miles of track that sees 7,500 passenger services every day, as well as 1,057,462 tonnes of freight moved each week.
Across the Eastern Region, we strive to strengthen our commercial function, improve how we engage with suppliers, embed commercial thinking across the business and deliver greater value for passengers and customers.
We lead the sourcing activity for the region, ensuring effective frameworks and contracts are in place for key regional categories of spend; site and non-site based activities supporting Routes (and maintenance teams), Asset Management, Renewals and Enhancements works and major projects and programmes (including Works Delivery and Capital Programmes teams), management consultancy, professional services, contingent labour, design services and property support. We also work closely with Route Services, which is responsible for sourcing national IT and property requirements.
Our aim is to be an engaged, expert and responsive team working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to deliver best-value routes to market for the region and our customers.
Across the team we have a breadth of experience delivering services, maintenance, operations, design, signalling and major enhancements contracts, as well as developing and delivering frameworks and other commercial arrangements.
Job Purpose
Please note, there are three opportunities available:
Opportunity 1 - This is an opportunity to lead a team of Buyers within the Eastern Region's Procurement team.
The team supports the region with transactional procurement activity, including requisition-to-purchase-order requirements and the procurement of goods, works and services. It also supports under-threshold procurement activity, including consultancy and professional services.
You will manage and support a team of Buyers, helping them to provide an efficient, responsive and compliant service to the business. You will oversee a varied portfolio of procurement activity, provide advice to stakeholders on procurement requirements and routes to market, and ensure activities are delivered in line with relevant procurement legislation, policies and governance requirements. You will also undertake procurement, negotiation and contracting activity and implement agreed commercial strategies.
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The role reports to the Senior Procurement Manager and will be based in Stratford.
Opportunity 2 & 3 - We are seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to support and/or lead the procurement and commercial delivery of major renewals, enhancement programmes and third-party funded infrastructure projects. The role will play a key part in supporting nationally significant programmes including East West Rail, Northern Powerhouse Rail and wider Capital Investment initiatives.
You will be responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, supporting on complex sourcing activities, placing high-value contracts and managing commercial risk and achieving value for money. Working closely with senior stakeholders, project teams and suppliers, you will ensure the delivery of best-value procurement solutions that support programme objectives while maintaining compliance, governance and commercial excellence.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to contribute to some of the UK's most significant infrastructure investments and help shape the future of rail and transport networks.
These roles can be based in York, Derby, Manchester or London.
Key Accountabilities
- Develop and implement individual project and steady state contracting strategy proposals including preparation and evaluation of tender documents and negotiation of contracts.
- Provide post contract commercial management support for a range of contracts.
- Provide dedicated support to senior staff in respect of individual projects and/or contract/commercial issues, including 'rapid response' to potential contract disputes.
- Target specific goods, services and/or suppliers to identify how tangible improvements may be made in the procurement of these goods and services.
- Undertake regular contract management meetings with key stakeholders and suppliers to monitor whether maximum value was delivered via contract.
- Manage responsibilities for endorsements and approval of contract variations.
- Provide all services to programme/project teams in a timely and cost-effective manner and contribute positively towards the achievement of programme/project objectives.
Essential
- Recognised skills in contractual and commercial matters, with credibility and experience to act as advisor to other staff.
- Successful procurement background with practical intermediate level experience.
- Contributed towards maintaining successful relationships with suppliers.
- Knowledge of relevant contract terms.
- Strong negotiation skills.
Desirable
- Membership of appropriate professional institution.
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External How To Apply
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
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We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.
Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days annual leave
Salary: £43,588 to £53,167 per annum (plus an inner London allowance of £3,270 per annum for London based roles).
Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off peak and super off peak tickets*
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.
Closing date: 31st August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's In It For You
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass—access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform—giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information
Your Experience And Skills
Opportunity 1 - You will be a practical and approachable procurement professional who is comfortable managing both people and priorities. You will be able to support and develop a team, provide clear advice to stakeholders and make sure procurement activity is delivered efficiently and compliantly and in line with relevant policies and governance requirements.
You will be confident working across a varied workload, from transactional purchasing and under-threshold procurements to more complex one-off requirements. You will have sound commercial judgement, a collaborative working style and a strong focus
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