Job Overview
The role of contract Senior Contracts Buyer sits within the Risk and Contracts Management team, reporting to the Head of that team. The Senior Contracts Buyer will be a key contact within Mitie Energy and responsible primarily for flexible and fixed price-fixed term gas and electricity procurement activities. Additionally, the role will include requirements to run other key procurement activities such as sourcing water and metering contracts.The role will include an allocation of key account customers which the Senior Contracts Buyer will manage and develop strong working relationships with. The successful candidate will be expected to liaise with suppliers, and internal teams and act as a role of energy expertise and stewardship through effectively being an extension of our customer's procurement and/or energy functions. The role will demand a high level of technical industry knowledge, and the candidate will be responsible for keeping up to date with. The candidate shall be confident to negotiate all aspects of product and pricing, and be able to articulate how best value for money solutions have been sourced for customers.
Main duties
* Capability to autonomously produce high quality numerical and written analysis of tender bid responses resulting in logically sound recommendations. Ensuring relevant systems and databases are kept up to date with high quality and accurate information
* Supplier Management: Ensuring strong relationships are created and sustained with all relevant stakeholders
* Ability to interpret all forms of energy contracts including metering and PPAs and the role will also include occasionally running tenders via the Public Sector Procurement process (historically OJEU)
* Running flexible gas and electricity contract procurement, following the procurement cycle from the creation of tender specifications (Key Selection Criteria), through to advertising tenders with suppliers, managing bidders responses and questions, analysing offers, and negotiating re-bids
* Commercially reviewing contracts to ensure that they are in line with all tender specifications.
* Awarding contracts that reflect negotiated positions and that are in line with the specification is of highest importance and requires keen commercial understanding with excellent attention to detail
* Use and maintain the internal procurement databases with information relating to awarded contracts and run other tender activities as and when required including managing MOP/DA/DC contracts and water procurement exercises
* Being a key member of the Contract Management team, the candidate's duties will include keeping abreast of industry regulatory changes and have expert knowledge of cost elements that make up a supply contract. The successful candidate will need to be comfortable with spending time to research market and price changes
* Presenting detailed analysis of tender results to senior contracts within our customer base including their FDs, CEOs and procurement teams. Duties will include presenting rounded and articulate analysis of pr duct and price which clearly results in logically sound recommendations.
* Any other duty which reasonably falls within the scope of this role
Requirements
* Proven background in working in an energy services team
* An energy expert with broad knowledge of how energy contracts are created and of the charges within them,
* Experience of being responsible for energy procurement, particularly around flexible energy contracts for gas and electricity,
* A confident person that can build relationships, influence and negotiate areas of product and price,
* An excellent communicator with ability to speak to senior contacts either face to face or over the phone,
* An analytical mind-set that has the capacity to ensure high accuracy of work when reviewing complex and large datasets,
* Excellent commercial awareness and ability to recognise contractual risk,
* Track record of ability to construct written reports to evaluate bids and create logical, balanced and clear recommendations,
* Highly organisational character with excellent time management,
* Excellent level of written English and ability to develop recommendations and other tender reports to be provided to senior contacts within our customers organisations,
* Proficient in IT and uses daily MS word, excel, PowerPoint, access, and outlook.
* Knowledge, skills & experience
* Existing CIPs (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply qualification (or above) would be desired, however not essential.
* If you do not hold a CIPs Level 4 Diploma, a desirable candidate would have either a minimum of at least two A-levels (or international equivalent) or a CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate qualification. Alternatively, you could have a minimum of two years' relevant experience in a business environment.
* Strong background in working with Optima energy management software platform
* Track record of working with large data sets, with appreciation of data visualisation
* Knowledge of MOP/DC/DA market
* An understanding of energy and carbon management terminology, principles, and methodologies
* Proven ability with Excel and other data analytic tools
* Computer literate with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
* An ability to work to deadlines
* An ability to work fast, but accurately
* High attention to detail
* Being able to work under pressure
* Excellent written communication skills
* Self-motivated
* Organised and accurate
* An understanding of the Utilities industry would be beneficial but not essential
* Able to demonstrate self-reliance and ability to manage own time and priorities
The successful candidate will be based in London, Northampton or another Mitie office, but also be expected to attend meetings at customer sites from time to time. Flexible working from home is available 2-3 days per week at management's discretion