Senior Procurement Buyer (Major Projects) - ESO

The UK has set out its ambition to be net zero by 2050 and the energy industry is responding - together we are building a cleaner, greener Britain. The ESO has established the Pathfinders programme to support this goal. For awareness, we are in the process rebranding Pathfinders as 'Network Services Procurement'., As you may have seen the Government and Ofgem have asked the ESO to take on new roles and responsibilities

Becoming the Energy Future System Operator is a critical step to help deliver a reliable and clean energy transition for all. The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new Future System Operator, taking on additional roles with a whole energy system mindset to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers.

The new organisation will be set up as a public corporation with operational independence from government - bringing parties together to support optimised decision making and action. As now, it will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements. It is anticipated that the new organisation will be up and running by or in 2024.

The time to act on climate change is now. As part of our team, you won't just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain - you'll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.,

• Developing insights to input into the category management process, through research and analysis of supply markets and other characteristics of the procurement market, whilst keeping up to date with developments and emerging supplier trends.


• Procurement sourcing lead for 1-2 strategic Pathfinder tenders at a time, identifying the best sourcing strategies, and leading events from market engagement through to contract award.


• Project management of strategic Pathfinder tenders, keeping the sourcing team on track through communication and maintenance of key project management documentation, such as RAID logs, project plans, project reporting and RACIs.


• Supporting the Procurement Manager in driving value creation across the procured spend base, through mechanisms such as volume leverage, quality tender documentation, forecasting efficiency, supplier innovation, non-traditional markets and optioneering, to ensure the FSO receives value for money.


• Collating data on spend performance and other metrics, providing analysis and recommendations for action; feedback to Procurement Manager for reporting purposes to provide a holistic picture of procurement activity.


• Ensuring risks are identified and work with the Procurement Manager to mitigate them to prevent any disruptions to timely procurement delivery.


• Maintaining knowledge of the ESO's policies and frameworks for contract and supplier management, ensuring compliance with the relevant processes and escalating issues as they arise.


• Ensuring a systematic and compliant approach to managing spend across all ESO procurement is adopted, in line with the direction from the Procurement Manager.


• Developing relationships with internal stakeholders.
  
  What we do isn't just important - it's essential. That's why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we're looking for someone who has:


• Previous experience of understanding, identifying, and executing multiple opportunities across a range of spend categories to deliver value.


• Comprehensive experience in the management of tendering large events.


• Experience of major infrastructure procurement, regulated procurement, and/ or energy markets is desirable.


• Excellent interpersonal, stakeholder and contract management skills; able to communicate effectively at all levels and externally to senior leaders within supplier organisations.


• Experience of supply chain management experience in complex environments.


• Track record of driving value beyond straightforward procurement saving; usage of lean techniques to identify and eliminate waste and identify income opportunities in the extended value chain.


• Excellent project management skills.


• Comfortable with procurement compliance.


• Good influencing and negotiation skills to drive optimum value through the award of commercially sound contracts.


• Experience with SAP, S4Hana or Coupa would be useful.
  
  Pathfinders is an innovative, world-first procurement programme delivering new energy infrastructure solutions to Great Britain's electricity grid through open competition. The programme has awarded contracts worth £billions, which will save energy bill payers tens of £billions and millions of tonnes of carbon over the next decade. More info: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/industry-information/balancing-services/pathfinders


Working as a Senior Procurement Buyer, you will be responsible for leading Pathfinder tenders. Pathfinders are complex, high value, high risk strategic sourcing events that require innovative commercial thinking and strong procurement leadership. You will act as both the procurement lead and project manager from the point the network requirement is identified through to contract award and handover. You will lead a tender team of subject matter experts to deliver a quality outcome for energy bill payers and the energy market.

This role is based from Warwick with occasional travel to other sites when required, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home., The ESO has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB's electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon operation by 2025. And by 2035, we want to run 100% clean, green energy, all the time.

A competitive salary between £48,000 - £59,000pa - dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a a bonus based on company performance, 26 days annual leave as standard and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.