The UK’s national synchrotron science facility, Diamond Light Source, conducts world-class research in virtually all fields of science. Located 20 minutes from Oxford, it sits in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers rewarding career opportunities.

We require a Buyer to join our busy procurement team. This role calls for someone with an understanding of purchasing options and strategies to work as a buyer in our procurement team, providing efficient treatment of mid-value (£5,000 - £50,000) orders. A natural influencer, you’ll use your strong communication to deal with internal staff as well as to negotiate with suppliers, securing the best value solutions for our organisation. You might have a Public or Private Sector background but either way, you’re as comfortable working in a team as on your own initiative, and have good MS Office skills and experience of an electronic procurement system.

The aim of this role is to provide for the efficient and economical treatment of orders and resolve issues arising from them.

Responsibilities include:

• Process purchase requests up to £50k ensuring value for money and compliance with DLS procedures;
• Contribute to the maintenance and development of the eProc system;
• Liaise with suppliers and Diamond staff to discuss issues regarding existing or new purchase orders;
• Undertake tenders as directed by the Senior Buyer ensuring compliance with DLS and EU regulations;
• Work with the Senior Buyer to tender for and develop Agreements to cover various commodity areas at Diamond;
• Engage with Diamond staff before the tender process to understand the procurement needs of the different groups;
• Actively monitor those Agreements to ensure compliance by the suppliers and usage by Diamond staff;
• Support the Tender and Contracts Administrator as required;
• Cover for other team members as required;
• Maintain regular contact with the DLS finance department in order to follow-up any payment queries from suppliers including investigating the reasons for unexpected delivery charges on orders.

• Work as a buyer in dynamic environment;
• Ability to negotiate optimum conditions with suppliers;
• Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
• Self-motivated and able to work on their own initiative;
• Computer literate, particularly in Excel & Word;
• Experience using an electronic procurement system;
• Purchasing in an organisation subject to European Procurement Regulations.

• Experience of technical/scientific sector;
• Willing to undertake Procurement training as required.