Undergraduate Buyer Procurement Warwick 2022
Applications for this job are now closed
Procurement means getting the right supplies from the right supplier, at the right price and at the right time. Procurement are responsible for sourcing activities, negotiation and strategic selection of goods and services that are important to an organisation. Working for a FTSE 100 Global company, within Global Procurement, you’ll be in a dynamic team responsible for purchasing the goods, services and works required to keep National Grid operating.
The 12-month Industrial Placement scheme within Global Procurement is a great way of determining whether this is the career for you. You will be given real responsibility from day one, and through two six-month placements you will gain a broad experience of what the procurement function can offer.
As a buyer within National Grid Global Procurement you could be procuring high-value construction contracts for major works, running sourcing processes to put in place the IT systems that underpin the company, or even purchasing a helicopter used to inspect the electricity network from above.
National Grid are committed to working towards Net Zero and as an Undergraduate Buyer you can support this by ensuring sustainability is embedded in everything we procure.
What you'll need
You must be in your penultimate year at university and be on track to achieve a 2.1 or above in any degree discipline.
About you
As part of the role you will build specialist expertise in sourcing, managing and delivering high-profile and high-value contracts. You will develop a flair for recognising opportunities to drive value in the broadest sense, looking beyond simply outright cost reduction.
You will need to be a strong communicator, who can engage effectively with a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
You must be able to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships across the business that will achieve successful outcomes.
You should be an effective problem-solver, with the ability to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to develop innovative strategies to meet business needs and deliver long term value.
The ideal candidate will engage in a professional manner and possess strong leadership and influencing skills. You should be self-aware and reflective; be flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback, always acting with integrity and taking responsibility for your actions.
What You'll Get
You will work within one of the largest Procurement departments in the Midlands, gaining skills and experience from highly experienced colleagues. You’ll be offered a detailed induction and access to training courses that will set you up for a career in National Grid and Global Procurement. You will have a clear career path from day one with great opportunities for development and promotion. You will receive a starting salary of £20,212 during your industrial placement as well as 25 days' holiday and close mentoring and feedback to ensure you get the most out of your placement. Best of all, if you have delivered excellent performance during your placement you may be offered an opportunity on our Graduate Development Programme at the start of your final year; leaving you free to concentrate on achieving that all important grade.
About Us
The System Operator ensures that Great Britain’s gas and electricity is transported safely and efficiently from where it is produced to where it is consumed, balancing supply and demand in real time. As a separate company within the National Grid Group, the Electricity System Operator is neutral within industry and able to facilitate market-based solutions that deliver value for consumers. We work with our customers and stakeholders to shape the future of the energy market, providing analysis and insight into the changing nature of energy in the UK, we don’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.
The world of energy is changing beyond recognition. Working at National Grid ESO, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.
Our values and principles
At National Grid ESO, through listening to what our customers need, every day we do the right thing and find a better way.
As a National Grid ESO employee, you’ll treat our customers as a priority, taking time to listen and work with them to help give them the best experience we possibly can. You’ll need to be proactive and flexible in your approach and continually look for ways to exceed their expectations – sometimes in unexpected and helpful ways. You’ll provide accessible information when our customers need it and make things simple by using your expertise to guide them. Above all, you’ll follow through on your promises to deliver value, drive efficiency and give them a great customer experience.
We offer inclusion and diversity training for everyone here at National Grid ESO, with a view to building an inclusive working environment and developing all our employees. Training opportunities range from unconscious bias and reverse mentoring to targeted training initiatives which are tailored to support our diverse and innovative work force