We're recruiting for a Lead Buyer to join the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA). What will you be doing as our new Lead Buyer? Our Lead Buyer will play a key role in the successful delivery of the Strategic Pipeline Alliance. Your role, as Lead Buyer is to develop and maintain the Procurement Schedule to ensure products / services are delivered to site on time. You will need to be able to work with and lead a team of other professionals (Design, Commercial, Delivery) to achieve this. You will be responsible for ensuring value for money and building relationships with our Ecosystem Partners. This will be through conducting mini competitions, applying Anglian Water allocation methodologies or conducting new procurement processes. Where appropriate you will need to ensure that the products purchase comply with DWI requirements. Due to the nature of the project ideally you will have experience of procurement within the water sector or a construction environment A little bit about your skills, experience and behaviours The successful Lead Buyer will be; Excellent with stakeholder management and negotiation skills. Influencing skills Commercial acumen - designing new commercial models and pricing Defining and establishing an ecosystem of supply chain partners that deliver maximum value to SPA. Defining the nature of relationship SPA establishes with suppliers Effectively integrating suppliers such that the ecosystem delivers out-performance, brings forward opportunities for innovation and leverages the benefits of digital technologies that enhance the delivery of SPAs outcomes. Package procurement/ Category strategy Supplier capability development Attention to detail Working to tight deliverables Can do attitude Qualifications & Experience Essential; Applicable experience of supporting operational teams with procurement activities A minimum of 5 years relevant Procurement experience Development of Procurement Strategy / Category Plans Desirable; Applicable experience of working within the water sector (direct or indirect) Applicable experience of working on a complex infrastructure project Working knowledge of NEC Knowledge of EU Procurement Regs Degree level education CIPS At SPA, we are working to combat the impact of climate change and keep fresh, clean water flowing across our region for generations to come. We are now at the pivotal 'delivery' milestone of the project, which is a very exciting time to join our team. Our ambition is to build a more inclusive environment. We are committed to celebrating and promoting diversity. The 330km Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) Project by Anglian Water is under construction and will be completed during in AMP8. Beyond this we have a further 260km of water transfer pipelines and associated infrastructure to be delivered in AMP8. To deliver the SPA project, Anglian Water is continuing to collaborate with several key partners, including Farrans, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), Costain, Jacobs, and Atkins. These companies bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the project, ensuring a robust and efficient delivery process. Embracing innovation, digital technology, and new ways of working, we operate as a fully integrated and collaborative alliance. Here at SPA we are looking for extraordinary people who want to help create a place where everyone can thrive and where people are excited to be part of the team. So, whatever your background and however you identify, please apply if you think this role was made for you. We support and encourage flexible working where possible, including remote working, part time hours and open discussion on working hours. Our office is based in Peterborough, but we also have several operational hubs across the length of the programme. Here at SPA, we embrace continuous development and aspire to do better. If you have feedback or suggestions regarding diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process, please do get in touch. Here at SPA our purpose is to 'Make the East of England Resilient to the Effects of Drought'. To help us work in this way, we look for individuals that demonstrate our key behaviours, aligning with our embedded values and beliefs. Our behaviours are: We do the right thing by, We build trust by, We are always exploring by. Inclusion at Anglian Water and our Alliances: Inclusion is for everyone and we are an equal opportunity employer, which means we'll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we're committed to creating an environment where all our colleagues feel they belong. Closing date: 29 November 2024 Please note, internally, this role is known as 'SPA Ecosystem Manager'.