Senior Buyer – Class C Components

Location: Hybrid, based from Derby, Manchester or Warrington

Salary: £44,600 – £55,125 dependent on experience + bonus + excellent benefits

Rolls‑Royce SMR is on a mission to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. As the UK’s leading Small Modular Reactor programme, we’re building a British solution to a global energy challenge and shaping one of the country’s most significant green export opportunities.

Our Procurement function is foundational to delivering our first SMR and enabling future fleet deployment. Within this, the Class C Components category plays a vital role—managing high‑volume, lower‑value but operationally essential components such as fasteners, brackets, fittings, standardised mechanical items, consumables and a wide range of supporting engineered products.

To support this, we are recruiting a Senior Buyer – Class C Components to lead sourcing activity, develop category strategies and manage supplier performance across a diverse, fast‑moving and operationally critical supply chain.

Reporting into the Procurement Manager, this role will shape commercial strategy, drive cost efficiency and help mature a scalable supply chain across standard and repeatable component categories.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and implement sourcing and category strategies to optimise cost, quality and delivery performance across all Class C component groups.
• Lead end‑to‑end procurement activity including PQQs, RFQs, RFPs, evaluations, negotiation, contract award and supplier onboarding.
• Build and mature the Class C supply base—identifying cost‑saving opportunities, supplier consolidation, risk reduction and long‑term capability development.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Programme Delivery, Finance and Operations to ensure early procurement involvement in specification and demand planning.
• Drive strategies that support standardisation, rationalisation and volume efficiency across component families.
• Analyse commercial, technical and market data to produce clear insights and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Maintain a high level of governance, compliance and documentation throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Support continuous improvement in processes, reporting, supplier performance management and contract frameworks.
  
  

This is a pivotal role supporting operational readiness, cost optimisation and supply chain scalability. You’ll bring strong commercial judgement, a proactive mindset and the ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, growing and highly innovative environment.

What You’ll Bring

• Experience purchasing Class C / low‑complexity, high‑volume components, such as fasteners, fittings, fabricated brackets, small machined items, consumables or indirect engineered products.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience running competitive tenders and managing supplier negotiations.
• Ability to work with high‑volume data, cost breakdowns, forecasts and supply‑demand analysis.
• Experience working in regulated or complex engineering environments (nuclear, energy, aerospace, defence, automotive, rail, industrial manufacturing or similar).
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing and operations.
• Strong communication skills—able to present information clearly at all levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• MCIPS (or working towards) is desirable but not essential.
  
  

Location & Ways of Working

This role can be based from our Derby, Manchester or Warrington office.

Hybrid working is standard, with regular weekly office attendance expected.

Some travel may be required depending on business and supplier activity.

What’s in it for you?

Salary: £44,600 – £55,125 depending on experience.

Benefits Include

• Bonus – up to 12.5% performance‑related
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 to create a personalised package
• Pension – 12% employer, 6% employee
• Holidays – 28 days + public holidays (option to buy/sell up to 4 days)
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• £250 one‑off payment for home office setup
  
  

You’ll join a forward‑thinking, inclusive and innovative organisation offering:

• A flexible and supportive working environment
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development
• A culture that values diversity, innovation and continuous learning
  
  

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.
  
  

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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.

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