
Category Buyer
Finance Division, Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford
The University has built a strong procurement capability and is currently implementing a number of strategic category management initiatives. We now have an exciting opportunity for a Category Buyer to assist in further developing these initiatives.
The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.
The Finance Division supports the academic, research and administrative community at the University providing sound financial advice and timely information with a range of support services including financial operations, financial reporting, financial support and professional services.
What We Offer
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• A welcoming and diverse community
About the Role
Your role will be to provide purchasing support and commercial expertise to all the University's internal customers and, by leveraging competitive advantage with our suppliers, ensure the University achieves best value for money.
Reporting to a Purchasing Manager you will be responsible for liaising with departments within the University to identify business requirements, tendering those business requirements, negotiating and finally contracting with the selected suppliers. You will also lead in managing categories of spend and developing relationships with suppliers. This may include project managing the implementation of multi-million pound category management projects.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who already has some buying experience to join an ambitious team, with an opportunity to rotate between different spend categories.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
You will be based in Hythe Bridge Street but you may be able to agree a pattern of regular remote working with your line manager.
About You
We need a Category Buyer with a customer focused approach along with excellent analytical, influencing, communication and project management skills to drive best value for money approaches. The confidence to interact with people at all levels and build constructive working relationships, coupled with a determination to influence change, is essential.
You will be either a full member of CIPS or prepared to study for the qualification.
Application Process
You will be required to upload a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 4 December 2023.
Interviews will take place during week commencing 11 December 2023 and will be in person.
Committed to equality and valuing diversity
Contact Person : Ffion Fry Vacancy ID : 169413 Contact Phone : Closing Date & Time : 04-Dec-2023 Pay Scale : STANDARD GRADE 7 Contact Email : [email protected] Salary (£) : 36024 - 44263
Job details
Title
Category Buyer
Employer
University of Oxford
Location
United Kingdom
Published
November 14, 2023
Application deadline
December 04, 2023
Job type
Administration/Managerment
Field
Business and Economics
About the employer
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and is actually so ancient that its founding date is unknown – though it is thought that teaching took place there as early as the 11th century. It’s located in and around the medieval city center of Oxford, dubbed “the dreaming city of spires” by the 19th century poet Matthew Arnold, and comprises 44 colleges and halls as well as the largest library system in the UK.
There are 22,000 students at Oxford in total, around half of whom are undergraduates, while 40 per cent are international students. A quarter of the city of Oxford’s residents are students, giving the city the youngest population in the UK.
The University of Oxford does not have a main campus, its buildings and facilities instead being scattered around the medieval city center. Its colleges each have a distinctive character and traditions often dating back centuries. Colleges are self-governing institutions to which students usually apply directly. There are four academic divisions within Oxford University: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. The university’s particular strength is the sciences, and it is ranked number one in the world for medicine.
Oxford is a youthful and cosmopolitan city with plenty to see and do. There are dozens of historic and iconic buildings, including the Bodleian Libraries, Ashmolean Museum, Sheldonian Theatre, the cathedral, and the colleges themselves. Students can choose to spend their time studying or avail themselves of the many extracurricular activities available. There’s a strong musical life at Oxford, with clubs and societies spanning all genres, from jazz, through to classical and folk. Oxford is also ranked highly for sport, with its top rowers taking part every year in the world-famous boat race with the University of Cambridge on the River Thames. Drama lovers are also well catered for, with one of the largest and most vibrant university drama scenes in the country.
Oxford has an alumni network of over 250,000 individuals, including more than 120 Olympic medalists, 26 Nobel Prize winners, seven poets laureate, and over 30 modern world leaders (including Bill Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Indira Ghandi and 26 UK Prime Ministers).
It has a friendly rivalry with Cambridge for the title of best university in the UK and is regularly ranked as being one of the top three universities in the world. Notable Oxford thinkers and scientists include Tim Berners-Lee, Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins.