Buyer - Highways and Energy

Job Introduction

Are you looking for your next challenge working for YPO?  Are you ready to grow and develop? This could be the role for you!

With 50 years of experience, YPO has been dedicated to supporting the public sector. Our journey began five decades ago when 13 local authorities united to streamline their purchasing needs and enhance efficiency, forming the organisation we know today.  Building on this strong heritage, we continue to evolve as a forward‑thinking organisation—embracing innovation, anticipating future needs, and ensuring we remain a trusted partner for the next generation of public service delivery.

As a 100% publicly owned entity by our 13 member authorities, we ensure that our profits are reinvested into our public sector customers, offering even greater value for money.  Discover more about our company and culture at Start a career at YPO | YPO.

About the Role

An excellent opportunity to step into the YPO Procurement Services team, we are looking for two Buyers to join the Procurement Services Team.   

In two Categories:

1 x Energy

1 x Buildings, Highways and Construction 

Candidates will understand and have practical experience of public sector procurement processes together with a broad interest in the subject. The ideal candidate will enjoy communicating with our public sector customers to help them drive cost reductions, write or review specifications and tender documents.

The post-holders will ensure that the category sourcing strategies are entirely aligned with the business’ future strategy, ensuring that best value, quality, and delivery is assured from the supply base. Working as part of a small team, you will be focusing on the category and will be keen to expand your knowledge of the energy industry or the construction industry to become the subject expert.

Key Responsibilities include:

Developing, procuring and managing a range of Frameworks and bespoke contracts, specific to the category and will provide first class service to customers who enquire about and/or access these frameworks.

Ensuring that the Frameworks deliver to agreed targets (e.g. spend, income & savings) and the specific buying strategy and approach is aligned to the overall procurement strategy, efficiency, overall growth and profitability.

Working with the Category Manager for Energy or Buildings, Highways and Construction to ensure that effective systems are in place to manage, develop, monitor, evaluate and review performance ensuring that processes and systems integrate effectively with other functions as needed.

Collaborating with sales, marketing and colleagues across the organisation to continuously develop the service and product range to meet the needs of customers and the market generally.

To keep up to date with information, training and development opportunities appropriate to maintaining and developing professional service standards, ensuring that services are delivered in line with relevant legislation, YPO objectives and policies including those relating to Equality and Diversity, Customer Care and Health and Safety.

Key Benefits to this Role & YPO: 

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• An extremely generous holiday package: minimum 214.6 hours (29 days) annual leave per year + 8 statutory holidays + 3 discretionary close down days (subject to Board approval)
• Flexi scheme and flexible working arrangements
• Reimbursement of professional membership fees when required for the role 
• Free parking (subject to availability)
• A robust CSR policy and a real commitment to staff development 
• Member of the Institute of Customer Service
• Public sector organisation that operates very commercially 
• A strong family feel 
• Subsidised canteen 
• Family friendly policies 
• Extensive offer of employee benefits including Cycle2Work, CSSC Membership, Discounted Travel Cards and many more.

The closing date for receipt of applications is midnight on Monday 12th April and interviews will be held on week commencing 20th April 2026.

To have a confidential and informal discussion about these roles or any additional support please contact Kath Johnson 07966886167 for Highways or Maria Hadro 07552 320520 for Energy.