All Locations
Derby
All Departments
Procurement

About The Role

Job Title:  Civil Subcontractor Buyer

Due to increased project activity across our civil engineering portfolio, we are expanding our Regional Procurement team to ensure robust governance, commercial efficiency, and strategic alignment. We are recruiting a Civils Subcontractor Buyer, based at our Derby Office, with hybrid working available.

The Civils Subcontractor Buyer will be responsible for procuring subcontractor packages across multiple projects within the region. This includes managing tender processes, negotiating subcontract terms, ensuring compliance, and maintaining strong supplier relationships. The role is pivotal in controlling costs, mitigating risk at program level, and supporting project delivery.

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the Head of Procurement, this role will be instrumental in:

  • Procure Civils Subcontract Packages: Lead procurement of subcontractor works including groundworks, drainage, earthworks, structures, and associated civils packages.
  • Support Project Delivery: Ensure timely and compliant subcontractor engagement aligned with project schedules and specifications.
  • Enhancing Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure Governance and Consistency: Align procurement practices with company policies, client frameworks, and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Subcontractor Procurement

  •  Collaborate with project teams to define scope and procurement needs for civils packages.
  • Develop and execute project-specific procurement strategies.
  • Manage end-to-end tender processes including ITTs, RFQs, evaluations, and award recommendations.
  • Negotiate subcontract terms including pricing, programme, KPIs, and risk allocation.
  • Ensure compliance with client frameworks and internal governance.
  •  Monitor program level committed costs and forecast subcontractor spend to mitigate financial risk.
 
 Supply Chain Management
 
  • Maintain strong relationships with civils subcontractors, resolving performance and delivery issues.
  • Ensure subcontractor compliance with Health & Safety, environmental, and quality standards.
  • Hold supplier relationship meetings and act as the escalation point for subcontractor-related issues across projects.
 
 Process Management & Improvement
 
  • Ensure adherence to procurement policies, contracts, and regulatory requirements.
  • Promote best practice procurement and continuous improvement.
  • Support ESG objectives through sustainable and ethical sourcing.
  • Maintain accurate records and data within procurement systems.
  • Support internal and external audits.
 
 Performance, Reporting & Representation
 
  • Prepare regional level reports on procurement performance and risk.
  • Represent the department and organisation professionally in all interactions.
  • Build strong relationships with projects teams, clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
  • Share best practices, innovation and drive continuous improvement.
  • Undertake additional duties, training, or working hours as reasonably required, consistent with the level of responsibility of this role.
  • Proactively manage your own continuous professional development by engaging in external networking, conferences, associations, and training to stay current with industry trends and innovations.

About You

Essential

 
  • Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across functions, suppliers, and stakeholders.
  • Customer-centric approach to procurement delivery.
  • Self-starter with the confidence to represent the Procurement function independently.
  • Commercially astute with a solid understanding of cost drivers and risk.
  • Skilled in networking and exerting positive business influence.
  • Committed to ethical procurement practices in line with the CIPS Ethical Policy.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with a proven track record of effective use.
  • Demonstrates and champions the company’s core values and behaviours.
Desirable
 
  • CIPS qualified or actively working towards certification.
  • Qualification in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics, Procurement, or a related field.
  • Knowledge of NEC contracts and civils subcontractor frameworks.
  • Familiarity with ISO standards, ESG compliance, and ethical sourcing practices.
  • Experience in regulated industries such as utilities, construction, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, or food.

About Us

MWH Treatment is an integrated design and build provider working in the water sector. With over 1400 staff working across eight regional centres, supporting six long-term water sector frameworks and two recently won frameworks, operating both as a sole contractor but also in joint ventures and alliances. 

At MWH Treatment we believe that people matter. We know to build successful, creative teams we need a diverse workforce that can deliver innovative ways of thinking. We provide an environment where you will have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential, creating opportunity by inviting, embracing, and celebrating difference, our goal as an employer is to motivate, and develop our employees. By fostering a diverse range of talents and perspectives we ensure we have the breadth of viewpoints, experiences, and skills needed to succeed. Embracing diversity of all kinds enables us to provide a work environment and culture that plays a key role in attracting and retaining the right people with the right skills. 

As signatories to the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, we have made a promise to support our forces, working with the CTP to help ex veterans find work in the civilian world. We also support Mates in Mind, a charitable programme to improve and promote positive mental health in the workplace. We don’t just tick boxes; we live these values every day. 

What MWH offer 

Packages include -  

A competitive salary 

Hybrid Working (Jobs needs dependent) 

Car/car allowance (Jobs needs dependent) 

25 days holiday + Bank Holidays (with an additional 5 days available to buy) 

Contribution Pension scheme 

Life Assurance 

Health Insurance 

Private Medical Insurance 

And many more benefits including – cycle to work scheme, discounts and savings Hub, Kids Pass etc 

Other jobs like this

All Locations
Derby
All Departments
Procurement
All Locations
Peterborough
All Departments
Business Support Adminstration
Latest

Administrator

All Locations
Hampton
All Departments
Operations Administration