Job Description
Contract type: 12-month Fixed Term
Location: Alderley Park
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based
Closing date: 25th September 2026
We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Buyer to join our Group Procurement team. You will support sourcing and supplier management activity across Royal London, helping us secure strong commercial value, manage third-party risk and deliver a high-quality service to stakeholders.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with commercial curiosity and strong transferable skills who wants to build a career in procurement. You will join a newly unified function at an important point in its transformation, with the chance to contribute to new ways of working, develop your category knowledge and take on increasing responsibility.
About the role
- Support end-to-end sourcing activity, including tendering, supplier research, contract reviews and price negotiations
- Take the lead on low to medium spend and risk procurement projects, initially with guidance and support
- Produce market insight to support category strategies and identify opportunities to reduce costs and increase value
- Build effective relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and subject matter experts across Risk, Finance, Legal and other areas of the business
- Complete supplier due diligence, onboarding and governance activity in line with procurement policies and risk controls
- Contribute to procurement transformation and continuous improvement, including the introduction of new systems and ways of working.
About you
- Good commercial acumen, with the confidence to challenge supplier proposals, support negotiations and identify opportunities for savings
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively at pace
- Clear communication and relationship-building skills, with a collaborative and proactive approach
- Good analytical skills, attention to detail and the ability to interpret information and produce clear reports
- An understanding of business processes, risk, controls and the importance of governance in a regulated environment
- A genuine interest in procurement and professional development; previous procurement or financial services experience is desirable but not essential.
If you feel you’d be a great fit for Royal London but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Research shows some candidates are less likely to apply unless they meet 100% of the criteria - if you meet most requirements and are keen to learn, we encourage you to apply!
About Royal London
We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.
Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.
We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.
Inclusion, diversity and belonging
We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.
We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.
Royal London is a purpose-driven mutual. Our Purpose, ‘Protecting today, investing in tomorrow. Together we are mutually responsible’, defines the impact we want to have. It shapes what we do on behalf of our members and customers, financial advisers, our colleagues and the communities in which we operate. Our People Promise is our collective commitment that our workplace will be inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling where all colleagues can thrive and experience a sense of belonging. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.
Our inclusive values and people promise are core to who we are and how we work. It’s good for our people, and good for our customers too, because with an inclusive workplace and a diverse workforce we will reflect our members, customers and communities to deliver the best outcomes.
We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across our organisation. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected– whatever their background.
Workplace Initiatives
Program for parents returning to work after Parental Leave? |
No |
Leadership development programmes? |
Yes |
Mentoring programmes? |
Yes |
Coaching programmes? |
Yes |
Employee-led diversity networks? |
Yes |
Internal women’s networking groups? |
Yes |
Open to discussing flexible work arrangements at interview stage? |
Yes |
No. of weeks paid maternity leave at full salary: |
26 weeks (followed by 13 weeks half pay) |
Minimum weeks tenure required to be eligible for paid maternity leave: |
Open to all regardless of length of service |
No. of weeks paid paternity leave at full salary: |
4 weeks |
Minimum tenure required to be eligible for paid paternity leave: |
Open to all regardless of length of service |
Gender pay gap reporting information 2022: |
|
Mean pay gap: |
35.3% |
Median pay gap: |
33.9% |
Mean bonus gap: |
70.4% |
Median bonus gap: |
48.5% |
Signatory of the UK Women in Finance Charter? |
Yes |
Targets to raise the number of women in leadership? |
Yes |
Targets to raise the number of BAME individuals in leadership? |
No |
Listed in the Bloomberg Diversity & Inclusion Index? |
No |
Graduate Programmes
We have a number of graduate programmes designed to deliver technical experts and future leaders.
Royal London Career Confidence programme
Our hybrid programme focuses on equipping you to feel empowered in your career and supported to explore new opportunities as they arise.
Apprenticeships
We offer a wide range of Apprenticeships that are targeted at both new joiners and existing colleagues.
Inclusion
We promote an inclusive culture at Royal London and have a range of inclusion networks for our colleagues to get involved with.
Our Women's Network is a community that celebrates and supports its members, helps everyone to learn more and inspires all of us to aim higher. Confidence and development are strong themes here and our events focus on three key areas of team working, finance, and wellbeing. There are two sub-groups to the Women’s Network – Women in Technology and our Periods and Menopause Group – focused on actions such as supporting over 20 new Periods and Menopause champions and launching guidance and training for leaders.