Lead Buyer

On behalf of The Home Office, we are looking for a Lead Buyer (Inside IR35) for a 6 month hybrid contract based in London. The successful candidate will have an expectation for working 60% in the office and 40% based from home. The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain. The Home Office covers three systems Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public. These are difficult areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in – this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work. SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.  As a Lead buyer , your main responsibilities will be: Lead commercial and contract management activity for the Inquiry, working closely with Finance and Commercial teams. Run compliant procurement activity end to end, using appropriate routes (e.g. CCS frameworks, G‑Cloud, open competition) to deliver value for money. Draft and manage tender documentation, bid processes and support evaluations. Ensure contracts and change controls are approved, signed and managed in line with delegated authority Manage contract changes, maintaining clear audit trails, approvals and records. Develop and maintain a forward commercial pipeline for Inquiry services. Monitor supplier performance, driving value for money and addressing issues early. Build strong supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery, payment and compliance. Share accurate contract and financial data to support planning and forecasting. Essential: Strong procurement and commercial expertise across the full end‑to‑end lifecycle in complex, policy‑led environments. Proven public sector procurement experience, including running compliant public procurements. Commercially astute, with experience developing and delivering sourcing strategies and commercial approaches. Confident contract manager, with a solid understanding of both procurement and contract management. Decisive and delivery‑focused, able to work independently and drive outcomes. Excellent stakeholder management, able to build influence at all levels, including senior leaders. Clear and confident communicator, able to explain processes, decisions and required steps effectively. Strong relationship builder, comfortable working in fast‑paced, complex commercial environments.