Category Manager (Food Services/Products)
Job Introduction
An exciting opportunity to join the Sodexo Supply Management team based at our Stevenage office has arisen. We are recruiting a Category Manager with food product/procurement experience to drive efficiency and commercial competitiveness in the UK & Ireland.
Working closely with key internal stake holders and a wide range of external suppliers, you will manage the assigned categories, increase international coverage of the managed area and work with global supply management teams. You will be responsible for identifying business strategy within your appointed categories and negotiating best prices and services for the business.
Role Responsibility
- Lead a sourcing strategy across the UK & I covering both technical and quality performance for the food service lines.
- Work collaboratively with key stakeholders within Service Operations (Food Services Platform) to define category strategies.
- Design and implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk.
- Engage with global buying teams in active collaboration for developing categories globally
- Build a strong network within the Supply Management both at a regional and local level
- Work with key stakeholders within Supply Management teams in the UK (Deployment and SRM teams)
- Be able to take into account the differences between the UK and ROI geographical requirements and business needs when developing the sourcing strategy
- Design and implement adequate strategies to achieve high performance meanwhile ensuring continuity and risk mitigation
- Ensure the relevant due diligence and buying process is adopted across all categories within remit.
The Ideal Candidate
- Experience in Buying/ Category Management
- Experience in both goods and services procurement within Food Services products
- Proven-track records in contract negotiation
- Strong presentation skills both verbally and written
- Graduate calibre and working towards CIPS/ISM or equivalent qualification
- Team player with excellent communication and influencing skills
- Financial acumen and result orientated
Package Description
Band B - with flexible benefits, bonus and access to a range of corporate benefits
About the Company
In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.
