Senior Buyer, Tech - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Role OVO-View

Location: Must be commutable to our London hub

Team: Procurement

Salary banding:  £43,120 - £47,041

Experience: Learner

Working pattern: Full time / 12 Month FTC 

Reporting to: Senior Procurement Manager, Technology

Sponsorship: Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

This role in 3 words: fast-paced, evolving, rewarding

Top 3 qualities for this role: Analytical, strategic, adaptable

Where you’ll work:

At OVO, we understand that a one size fits all approach doesn’t work for everyone. That’s why we created the OVO Way of Flexibility.

All our roles are hub based (Bristol, Glasgow or London), providing a dedicated space for collaboration, connection and teamwork. We're looking for candidates who can travel easily to our London hub. You’ll also have the flexibility to work from home.

Everyone belongs at OVO

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you’ll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here’s how:

We’re looking to hire a Senior Buyer into the Procurement team to support delivery of Plan Zero across the Technology category; driving the best outcome for the planet when considering how we purchase software, hardware, services, hosting and more!

This role in a nutshell:

This role is an entry level role in our Procurement function. Working alongside a Procurement Manager, you will be supporting the Senior Procurement Manager with the sourcing of a wide range of indirect products and services within our Technology category. You will be responsible for delivering exceptional stakeholder management across a wide range of business stakeholders, both within Technology and anywhere else in OVO that Tech is sourced whilst highlighting and tracking risk. 

Your key outcomes will be:

• Business partnering with operational stakeholders (i.e Heads of Departments and Managers)
• Contributing to the development of various category strategies (including but not limited to Software, Hardware, Professional Services, Data Services and Networks & Telco)
• Negotiating low-medium value supplier contracts
• Gathering and manipulating relevant data to build and keep updated a clear view of category spend and suppliers
• Contributing to savings strategies and opportunity analysis Liaising with supporting functions such as Legal and Finance, ensuring relevant budgets and legal terms are in place.
• Educating OVO stakeholders on the procurement policy and process
• Maintaining Procurement systems used for contract management and eSourcing
• Supporting with the implementation of new procurement systems and process
• Supporting OVOs Plan Zero objectives
• Other ad hoc tasks as required

Within your first 3 months month you’ll:

• With agreement with the Senior Procurement Manager, have commenced category strategies focusing on Data and Networks & Telco. 
• Be confident
• Be known in your business area and by key collaborators as the recruiter for the job
• Be familiar with OVO’s hiring processes, our ATS and our other systems
• Systems: (Any specific systems the individual will work with on a daily basis? If not, remove!)

You’ll be a successful Senior Buyer, Tech at OVO if you…

• Are MCIPS level 4 qualified (or working towards this) with at least 3 years experience in a similar role (desired)
• Able to pick up new processes, systems and ways of working quickly and effectively
• Good relationship management skills, able to build a trusting relationship both internally with stakeholders and externally with suppliers
• Great organisational skills and able to manage multiple tasks at one time
• Willingness to learn in a coachable manner
• Basic negotiation skills
• Able to effectively prioritise work loads balancing importance and urgency whilst managing stakeholder expectations
• Good presentation and communication skills
• Able to apply skills beyond the traditional functions of Procurement and to bring them to bear on a broad range of commercial issues
• IT literate (knowledge of Procurement systems desirable)
• You should also be a delivery focused self starter. team-oriented and with a collaborative, pragmatic approach
• A foundational understanding of category management practices
• Exposure to energy and technology businesses (desirable)

Let’s talk about what’s in it for you

We’ll pay you between £43,120 - £47,041 depending on your specific skills and experience. If your expectations are a little different, have a chat with us!

We keep our pay ranges broad on purpose to give us, and you, flexibility to match your experience to our zero carbon mission.

You’ll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15%. We have one OVO bonus plan that focuses on the collective performance of our people to deliver our Plan Zero goal. 

We also offer plenty of green benefits and progressive policies to help you feel like you belong at OVO…and there’s flex pay.  It’s an extra 9% of your salary on top of your core pay to use as you like. You can take it as cash, add to your pension, or choose to spend it on a huge range of flex benefits.

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer: 

For starters, you’ll get 34 days of holiday (including bank holidays).

For your health
With benefits like a healthcare cash plan or private medical insurance depending on your career level, critical illness cover, life assurance, health assessments, and more

For your wellbeing
With gym membership, gadget, travel and cyber insurance, workplace ISA, will writing services, DNA testing, dental insurance, and more

For your lifestyle
With extra holiday buying, discount dining, culture cards, tech loans, and supporting your favourite charities with give-as-you-earn donations

For your home 
Get up to £300 off any OVO Energy plan (when you pay by Direct Debit), plus personal carbon offsetting and great discounts on smart thermostats and EV chargers

For your commute
Nab a great deal on ultra-low emission car leasing, plus our cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans

Want to hear about our full range of flexible benefits and progressive people policies? Our People Team can tell you everything you need to know.

For your Belonging

To find better ways to support our people, we need to listen to each other’s experiences and find ways to build a truly inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of this, we have 8 Belonging Networks at OVO. Led by our people, for our people - so when you join OVO, you can play a part - big or small - with any of the Networks. It's up to you.

Oh, and one last thing...

We’d be thrilled if you tick off all our boxes yet we also believe it’s just as important we tick off all of yours. And if you think you have most of what we’re looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit apply. We’d still love to hear from you! If you have any additional requirements, there’s a space to let us know on the application form; we want to make the process as easy and comfortable for you as possible..