Ref: 232
Department: Supply Chain
Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington
Employment type: Full-time
Salary: £40,000 - £52,500
Closing date: 18/08/2025
Role Related
Senior Buyer
We anticipate offering between £40,000 - £52,500 (DOE)
Derby, Warrington, OR Manchester offices - Hybrid working flexibility
We are Rolls-Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.
We are now recruiting for the exciting role of Senior Buyer, to be involved in developing a global supply chain and creating opportunities for the wider industry.
Role Purpose:
As a Senior Buyer at Rolls-Royce SMR, you'll help shape procurement strategies for a new product introduction, building a global supply base from the ground up. You'll conduct market and supplier analysis, guide sourcing decisions, and influence design and commercial outcomes. This role plays a key part in delivering a transformative UK infrastructure project—supporting innovation, clean energy, and future manufacturing.
Key Results & Achievements
- Supporting the development, delivery and approval of sourcing campaigns in accordance with RR SMR business constraints (time, cost, quality)
- Internal and External stakeholder management throughout the entire life of a procurement campaign
Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.
Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch, we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.
Key Selection Criteria
Supplier Selection and Management
- Contribute to the development and implementation of global supplier and commodity strategies.
- Drive sustainable improvements in quality, cost-efficiency, and delivery performance.
- Ensure innovation and commercial rigour are embedded throughout procurement practices.
- Align strategy work with Rolls-Royce SMR’s broader mission to transform the future of nuclear energy.
Strategy Development
- Support global supplier and commodity strategy development to drive improvements in quality, cost, and delivery, ensuring innovation and commercial rigour are central to Rolls-Royce SMR’s mission to revolutionise nuclear power.
Purchasing Process
- Lead global and strategic tenders by developing PQQ/RFP documentation, managing market engagement, evaluating submissions, and supporting the execution of P2P solutions to secure key commercial positions.
Relationship Management
- Manage internal and external stakeholder relationships, including supplier development, while collaborating across RR SMR directorates to ensure alignment and successful cross-functional delivery.
Training & Qualification Requirements
- BA degree or equivalent or relevant industry experience.
- Demonstrated commercial acumen with a solid understanding of procurement and supply chain management
- Experience in developing and delivering global category management and strategic sourcing initiatives from the ground up in a NPI environment
- Ideally experienced working in a highly regulated industry
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, particularly for cost modelling and reporting
- Strong planning and project management capabilities
- Proven track record of delivering results
- Global outlook and exposure to different challenges, cultures and ways of working
- Self-starter who can manage internal and external stakeholders at all levels
Our Application Process
Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:
- Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
- Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check
Pay And Benefits
- Salary - £40,000 - £52,500
- A performance related bonus of up to 12.5%,
- An attractive pension scheme with 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
- You will also receive a flexible benefits allowance of £2,200, enabling you to create a bespoke package to suit your needs.
- 28 days annual leave (plus bank holiday) with ability to buy additional days.
- BUPA personal health cover
- £250 one-off cash allowance on joining to spend on your home-office set-up
Company Related
We are Rolls-Royce SMR
Rolls-Royce SMR is a rare employer because it blends the world-class brand of Rolls Royce with an exciting start-up that has a hugely challenging mission. We’re doing work that contributes to the survival of the planet. Because of our mission, there’s a pace and energy that is palpable, and our leaders draw you in with their passion, energy, and determination.
We’re one of a handful of employers who can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation – our people are here because of what makes them great, and our job is to help them make the best contribution of their careers doing work they love.
The start-up mentality coupled with our strengths-approach to people means there are opportunities to grow in ways and jobs you probably would be barred from doing in more traditional companies.
Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470MW of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues
Our Culture
At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.
Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.