Skip to content
Working at Sodexo - engineer fixing large machinery

Our vacancies

Search Jobs  

Senior Category Manager (Hard FM Buying/Procurement)

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

Job Introduction

As Senior Category Manager with Hard FM expertise, you'll have responsibility for managing a technical services spend portfolio of circa £100m of which is in 15% YOY growth.

Your key categories include; Mobile mechanical & electrical, HVAC (air condition), building systems maintenance, Fire and security, lift maintenance, catering equipment maintenance.

An excellent opportunity for you to showcase your FM expertise in the above categories in addition to demonstrating your authentic leadership. 

If you are a high performer with high potential, there will be long term career success, we have many colleagues with success stories who have joined in this business area and have gone on to further develop/promotion.

Exciting projects and additional responsibility includes:

  • Deploying the hard FM strategy into the business
  • Formulating Category plans
  • Improving the tender process for technical service categories
  • Supporting the alignment with global procurement teams

Service Operations is the part of our business that supports segment development by providing expertise and process standardisation across all segments. Service Operations leverages our global expertise and best practice to bring the best of Sodexo to all of our clients. It includes everything from FM expertise to food development through to bid support, health and safety, and contract design and management.

Role Responsibility

  • Lead a sourcing strategy across the UK & ROI covering both technical and quality requirements for the service line requirements 
  • Category management of the assigned categories within the scope of responsibility;  design and Implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at a regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk
  • Drive efficiency and commercial competitiveness for the UK & I
  • Manage alignment with global supply management buying teams
  • Ensure your team are motivated, engaged and getting the most from their role

*please see attached job description for further detail

The Ideal Candidate

  • Strong and comprehensive experience in Buying / Category Management – Hard FM*
  • Proven team leadership with experience of managing high performing large scale teams highly desirable
  • Proven-track record in complex contract negotiation
  • Ability in working in a multi-cultural and matrix environment
  • Excellent external networking capabilities and presentation skills 
  • Effective communication and influencing skills
  • Financial acumen and result orientated with ability to present results in a structured and professional manner
  • Strong project management skills
  • Graduate calibre with CIPS/ISM or equivalent qualification preferred
  • Fluency in English; French / Spanish desirable .
  • Flexible for international travel where necessary

*FM Hard FM - additional

  • Experience of Pharma, Heath or Public Sector FM Operations
  • Experience in specific Hard FM sub categories e.g. Lifts, Fire and Security, Water treatment, electrical wholesalers
  • Experience of procuring sub-contractors across Hard FM
  • Knowledge of Construction and Civils ‘project’ works procurement methodologies

Package Description

£Competitive salary + benefits including car/car allowance, bonus, pension, flexible benefits scheme etc

As part of our commitment to improving the quality of life for our employees, Sodexo offers a Flexible Benefits Scheme, allowing you to tailor a reward package to suit your needs which includes a technology scheme, private dental insurance, travel insurance, gym membership, Gourmet card, private medical insurance and the ability to purchase or sell annual leave to name but a few.

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster.

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.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience. If you navigate to another page without changing the settings bellow you consent to this. Read more about cookies.