Category Buyer

Category Buyer

• Hybrid role with 80% homeworking and 20% in Stratford-upon-Avon
• Opportunity to gain experience in buying services
• Gain valuable insight in Procurement within a different sector

About the role

Due to maternity leave, we have an exciting opportunity for a Category Buyer to join our Procurement Team on a 12 month fixed term basis.

In Procurement, we work in partnership with colleagues to ensure our supply chain delivers excellent sustainable value, mitigates risk and demonstrates NFU Mutual is a great company to do business with. To achieve these objectives, we work to define the supply chain strategy, manage the tender process and provide guidance on supplier relationship management

In the CATEGORY BUYER role, you will develop and lead tenders', oversee and monitor the management of suppliers and drive effective procurement that delivers best commercial terms and meets business requirements in a sustainable way.
The role will cover a range of indirect category areas including professional services, HR, marketing and this role will be ideal for a generalist.

This role is based in our Tiddington Head Office, just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. However, we understand how important a positive work-life balance is, so to help you give your best, we offer great facilities when you want to be in an office environment and support to work up to 80% of your hours from home.

About you

You’ll use your thorough procurement experience to drive great outcomes from your selected categories through market analysis, tendering, contracting and supply chain management. You’ll be very experienced in direct buying and able to use E-Sourcing tools. You’ll also have experience in using Purchase Order systems and be a confident Excel user.

You will have the ability to communicate effectively and confidently at all levels, work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and you will be able to prioritise and meet multiple deadlines. With a focus on negotiation, you’ll be a confident communicator, a natural influencer and a positive challenger, able to adapt your style to suit different stakeholders

To join our team, you’ll also have:
• Procurement experience, preferably gained within the relevant category areas.
• Knowledge of procurement processes, contractual terms and conditions and commercial risk.
• Experience of managing and working with business stakeholders and suppliers
• Experienced in negotiating to deliver best value/commercial terms

At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.

We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process.

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.

Benefits and Rewards

When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:

• Salary c£45,000k
• Annual bonus (up to 17.5% of salary)
• Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme
• A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities
• Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets
• £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership - subject to T&Cs
• Health and wellbeing plan- cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more
• Access to voluntary benefits, including health assessments, private medical insurance and dental insurance
• Employee Volunteering - volunteer in the community for one day each year
• Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme
• Life Assurance cover of 4 x salary
• Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies.

Working at NFU Mutual

We’re one of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies. For over 110 years we’ve put our customers at the heart of everything we do Our people are just as important to us. We pride ourselves on being "a great place to work" and areone of only 57 companies across the globe, and one of only two organisationswith headquarters in the UK, to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2023 award. We were also named in the LinkedIn Top 25 Companies List 2021, the Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK List 2023 and 2024, and were recognised as a certified UK Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute in 2023 and 2024.

We offer a supportive culture where we empower and inspire our people to perform, offer them opportunities to grow, and recognise and reward their contribution. Our people are proud to work for a company that respects them and their communities, and they trust us to be financially sustainable, so we are successful now and in the future.