Senior Procurement Buyer

Senior Procurement Buyer Contract Length: 10 months (possible extension) Location: Hybrid working: predominantly remote, with a minimum of 1 day per week onsite in either Wokingham or Warwick. Pay Rate: £650 per day via umbrella (Inside IR35) We are supporting a high‑profile, confidential UK infrastructure programme as it moves into a critical market‑engagement phase. To support this next stage, we are seeking an experienced Senior Procurement Buyer to lead complex, regulated procurement activity on a major national programme. This is a senior, delivery‑focused role offering genuine responsibility, visibility, and the opportunity to shape procurements that will have long‑term impact. The Opportunity You will join at a pivotal moment, leading multiple high‑value procurement exercises in parallel, primarily via established public‑sector frameworks rather than open‑market tenders. Operating in a sensitive, time‑pressured environment, you'll play a key role in enabling the next phase of delivery for a nationally significant programme. Key Responsibilities As Senior Procurement Buyer, you will: Lead end‑to‑end procurement exercises with minimal supervision Deliver two majorparallelprocurements: Appointment of a Principal Contractor on a Design & Build basis Procurement of Construction Professional Services, including: Delivery & Integration Partner (programme / project management) Technical Assurance Cost, Commercial & Financial Support Shape procurement strategies and sourcing approaches Run compliant, framework‑based competitions in a regulated environment Manage evaluation processes, governance approvals and award recommendations Provide assurance on compliance, risk and commercial robustness Engage confidently with senior stakeholders, legal teams and delivery partners Operate effectively where project detail is necessarily restrictedThis is a hands‑on leadership role, not a support position. Skills & Experience Required Proven experience delivering end‑to‑end public‑sector procurement Track record leading complex, regulated procurement exercises Strong understanding of public‑sector procurement governance Experience managing multiple procurements concurrently Confidence operating under time pressure and scrutiny Excellent stakeholder engagement skills Ability to work professionally within secure or sensitive environments Clear, demonstrable understanding of procurement process (tested at interview) Experience using public‑sector frameworks (e.g. GCA / CCS or similar) Infrastructure or major capital programme exposure Familiarity with NEC4 ECC and PSC contracts Previous experience on confidential or restricted programmes Security Clearance Security Clearance is desirable but not essential. Candidates must be willing and eligible to obtain Security Clearance if appointed Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, unfortunately, your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we may retain your details for any future suitable vacancies and contact you accordingly. Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you. We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention