Senior Buyer Indirect
- London
- Hybrid
At HX our purpose is to awaken people to the beauty and fragility of the planet, with adventure that reignitesasenseofwonder.Wetakecurioustravellerstoincredibledestinations,sustainablyin true expedition-style with science and education at the heart of every journey. We bring them off the beaten track, to special destinations across the Arctic, Antarctic, Galapagos, British Isles, Alaska, Northern Norway, and Central / South America.
The Senior Buyer – Indirect is responsible for providing commercially focused procurement leadership across assigned indirect spend categories, driving strategic sourcing, supplier optimisation, and value delivery aligned to business objectives. The role combines end-to-end sourcing execution with emerging category ownership, requiring strong negotiation skills, stakeholder management, and commercial judgement. The Senior Buyer - Indirect is expected to proactively identify opportunities, lead complex sourcing initiatives, influence business decisions early, and support the transition towards a structured, category-led procurement model while mentoring junior team members.
At HX, we are a passionate team who deliver our global operations from every corner of the world and our people are instrumental in continuing to inspire this adventure, play their part and deliver on our promise of guest centric and memorable experiences, benefiting the communities we visit, enriching our guests and inspiring a more sustainable world – to change the way they see the world.
Key Responsibilities & Deliverables
The Senior Buyer - Indirect is expected to take ownership of assigned spend categories, leading sourcing strategy, supplier optimisation, and stakeholder engagement to deliver commercial value and ensure procurement is embedded early in business decision-making.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities including RFQs, RFPs, ITT and contract negotiations.
- Develop and manage category plans, identifying opportunities for cost optimisation, supplier consolidation, and value delivery.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor on procurement and commercial decisions.
- Define and implement supplier strategies, including Preferred Supplier Lists (PSLs) and supplier performance expectations.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policy, governance frameworks, and legal requirements across all activities.
- Proactively identify and develop a pipeline of sourcing opportunities aligned to business priorities.
- Mentor and support the development of junior team members, providing guidance on sourcing activities and stakeholder engagement.
- Collaborate with the Procurement Analyst to utilise spend data, insights, and reporting to inform decision-making and strategy.
- Support cross-functional initiatives and projects as required.
- Thinks sustainably and incorporates this mindset into sourcing decisions, supplier selection, and stakeholder engagement.
- Champions the HX Spirits, promoting a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Skills & Requirements
Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required
- Significant experience in procurement, sourcing, or commercial roles (typically 8+ years)
- Proven experience leading end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFQs/ITT and supplier negotiations
- Demonstrated experience managing indirect spend categories (e.g. travel, marketing, professional services) required
- Experience developing category plans, identifying sourcing pipelines, and delivering cost optimisation initiatives
- Experience in supplier management, including supplier selection, consolidation, and performance oversight
- Ability to apply commercial insight and market knowledge to inform sourcing strategies and decision-making
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at multiple levels
- Experience within the expedition, travel, or cruise industry beneficial but not required
- Tech-forward and adaptable, with a proven ability to quickly learn and utilise procurement and business systems Tech-forward and adaptable, with a proven ability to quickly learn new systems.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications including Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
- Experience working in a multi-national organisation with a global guest mix.
Key Personal Attributes/Behavioural Competencies:
- Safety and Compliance minded for yourself and others.
- Acts with a high level of integrity, professionalism, and sound commercial judgement in all decisions
- Communicates with confidence and clarity, influencing stakeholders at multiple levels and managing complex discussions effectively
- Proactively drives outcomes, balancing strategic priorities with execution and delivering results in a dynamic environment
- Adapts positively to change, leading through ambiguity and supporting others through transformation
- Builds strong, trust-based relationships across the business, acting as a collaborative and credible partner
- Approach work with an emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy to minimize mistakes.
- Ability to work in an organised and logical manner with the flexibility to adapt to change when necessary.
- Strong sense of initiative and urgency, with the ability to follow-up on outstanding matters efficiently.
- Demonstrates pride and ownership in all aspects of your work, from high level advisory to essential day-to-day administration.
- Demonstrated polish and professionalism at all times when engaging with leaders and team members with differing points of view.
HX Spirit:
Passionate Explorers: We are proud of our history and are driven to create more.
‘Can-do’ Mindset: We jump-in and proactively contribute to the greater good.
Humble Leadership: We have a short distance between leaders and teams.
Genuine Interactions: We want all people to be their true selves.
Supportive & Collaborative Teams: We are curious and generous with our knowledge. We Trust.
Great Place to Work
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Passionate Explorers - We are proud of our history and are driven to create more.
-
‘Can-Do’ Mindset - We jump-in and proactively contribute to the greater good.
-
Supportive and Collaborative Teams - We are curious and generous with our knowledge. We Trust.
-
Genuine Interactions - We want all people to be their true selves.
-
Humble Leadership - We have a short distance between leaders and teams.
About the company
Since 1896, HX have championed sustainability in the expedition cruise sector. From launching the world’s first battery-hybrid expedition cruise ships to banishing heavy fuel oil and single use plastics from our fleet. We are at the forefront of driving sustainable practices in expedition cruises that prioritise greener travel.
For nearly 130 years we have been committed to continuously improving what we do for our guests but also for the people we work with.
We are a group of explorers who want to seek out the very best journeys for our guests but also for ourselves. We take our guests on big life-changing adventures, from the stunning wilderness of the Arctic to the incredible creatures on the Galápagos Islands all on our purpose-built expedition ships. Our HX fleet explore hundreds of destinations in over 30 countries across 5 continents.
Our ambition is strong and lofty – we want to become the number one sustainable expedition brand in the world. But we recognise we need passionate explorers, with can-do mindsets, humble leadership skills which bring people together for genuine interactions in a supportive and collaborative way.
As a newly branded company built on a 130-years heritage, HX is at an exciting new chapter and as we embark on this new journey, we believe your skills and passion could thrive. We are looking for talented explorers who want to join us on our exciting expedition to growth and success. This could include travelling and working in amazing HX hubs both on sea and land. From our impressive new Headquarters in London to our state-of-the-art Customer Service Centre just opened in Prague as well as various offices across Europe, the US and APAC.
One thing you’ll find whether on sea or land is a group of people, all connected with the same mindset and purpose - we want to explore more, champion sustainability and become the world’s very best expedition cruise operator.
Single-use plastic banHurtigruten was the first major travel company to have removed single-use plastic from its entire fleet and our hotels.
Hybrid Explorer shipsHX Expedition has two hybrid-electric powered expedition cruise ships that offer a 20% reduction of fuel consumption.
Beach cleanupsHX Expedition Teams encourage guests to take part in beach clean-ups, which results in several metric tonnes of trash every year being removed.
HX Expedition FoundationOur HX Foundation is a dedicated charity supporting local communities and environmental initiatives solely on the areas where HX’s Expedition ships sail, from the Arctic and Alaska to the UK, Galápagos Islands and Antarctica.
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