Senior Buyer at UK Atomic Energy Authority in Retford, England, GB

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd , a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKFE and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground breaking journey.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

The salary for this role is £44,290.

This position is to be based at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week.

For more information on UKFE, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf

Job Description

The Senior Buyer is a specialist with accountability for procurement, sourcing strategy, and commercial performance across major programmes, portfolios, and high‑risk commercial environments.

Operating above the Lead Buyer, the Senior Buyer provides direction, governance, and assurance for complex commercial activity and supports the shaping of organisational commercial strategy and policy. The role has a high degree autonomy and decision‑making authority, balancing value for money, commercial risk, regulatory compliance (including PA23), market resilience, and long‑term supplier outcomes.

The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in enabling delivery at scale, driving commercial maturity, and building sustainable capability across the commercial function.

Accountability 1:

Strategic Procurement & Commercial Leadership

• Play a key role in setting commercial and sourcing strategies for major programmes, high‑value portfolios, or business‑critical categories.
• Provide direction on procurement routes, commercial models, risk allocation, and contracting approaches for novel, complex, or nationally significant procurements.
• Enable the shaping of long‑term category, supplier, and market development strategies, including resilience, innovation, and social value.
• Act as a delegated senior commercial authority for approvals, assurance, and challenge across procurement lifecycle stages.
• Ensure full compliance with PA23, delegated authorities, internal controls, and external regulatory expectations.

Accountability 2:

Portfolio Contract Ownership & Commercial Risk

• Support and implement negotiation of high‑value and precedent‑setting contracts, including:
  • Major infrastructure and construction arrangements
  • Strategic supplier alliances and long‑term frameworks
  • Complex professional services and integrated delivery models
• Provide oversight of:
  • Cost control, forecasting, and financial risk exposure
  • Change management, compensation events, and claims strategy
  • Performance regimes, incentives, and commercial remedies
• Participate in the organisation’s approach to commercial risk management, dispute avoidance, and escalation, including support to formal dispute resolution when required.

Accountability 3:

Senior Stakeholder & Supplier Engagement

• Act as the organisation’s senior commercial representative with key delivery partners, strategic suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Build and sustain executive‑level supplier relationships, driving performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide trusted commercial counsel to:
  • Executive leadership and programme sponsors
  • Project and engineering leadership
  • Finance, Legal, and Assurance functions
• Represent the organisation in external commercial forums, negotiations, and assurance engagements.

Accountability 4:

Governance, Assurance & Organisational Control

• Set and maintain commercial governance standards across programmes and portfolios.
• Provide independent challenge and assurance on commercial strategies, business cases, procurement outcomes, and contract changes.
• Own and oversee the quality of commercial submissions to senior governance boards and executive decision forums.
• Lead responses to audit, assurance, regulatory scrutiny, and external reviews, ensuring consistent, defensible commercial practice.
• Drive improvements to commercial frameworks, tools, controls, and reporting across the function.

Accountability 5:

Leadership, Functional Management & Capability Building

• Provide strategic guidance to Lead Buyers, Buyers, and wider commercial professionals across multiple teams or programmes.
• Set functional priorities, allocate resources, and manage capability to meet delivery demands.
• Champion professional standards, ethical procurement, and continuous improvement.

Accountability 6:

Embody a Leadership Mindset

• Regardless of your formal position, you embody a leadership mindset and a set of leadership behaviours. You embrace and embody our organisation's culture, values, and mission in all aspects of your work.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organisation's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Lead by example, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organisational goals.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Extensive experience in senior commercial, procurement, and contract leadership roles within large, complex, or regulated environments.
• Proven track record of leading major programmes or portfolios with high commercial risk and material financial impact.
• Deep, applied expertise in public sector procurement legislation (PA23), governance, and assurance.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior commercial decision‑maker, influencing outcomes at executive level.
• Exceptional leadership, judgement, negotiation, and stakeholder management capability.
• Studying towards or willing to work towards membership of:
  • Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS), or
  • Alternative recognised Commercial accreditation

Beneficial:

• MCIPS Chartered (or equivalent senior commercial accreditation)
• Experience shaping organisational commercial policy and operating models
• Advanced expertise in NEC and other complex contracting forms
• Experience working with or advising executive boards and senior governance bodies

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, and people with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications. We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organisation.

We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment, to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.