Senior Category Business Manager

Foodbuy is a leading food procurement organisation based in the UK. With over £1bn of managed spend, we bring together the widest range of foodservice and hospitality clients on the planet to buy food, and everything associated with it. We work closely with our clients to deliver expert procurement services saving them both time and money and enabling them to focus on what really matters to their businesses.

We’re looking to hire a Senior Category Business Manager to join the team. This is an exciting new role, with the primary purpose to secure procurement synergies and commercial value via a range of different projects for Foodbuy. This will be delivered through contract and product level pricing and rebate coverage across the main suppliers, manufacturers that cover Food, Retail & SES categories. You will also be working in partnership with category development, sourcing and supply chain teams to ensure a clear operating model exists to deliver the strategy. 

There is over £586m of spend in scope today, with ambitious growth plans for the next 3 years which will only see this spend increase, so huge potential for opportunity and value.

Key responsibilities:

• Overarching responsibility for delivering the commercial targets relating to procurement synergies and commercial value for our Foodbuy members.
• Working alongside the Head of CBM to define & implement the procurement synergies strategy including priorities, procurement strategies, ways of working, processes & reporting.
• Leading the CBM – Food, Retail & SES team and managing the Category Business Managers that fall within.
• Securing and enhancing commercial terms across our supplier & manufacturer base to generate rebates, ensuring these are accessible to all Foodbuy members via the different routes to market and driving profit for Foodbuy.
• Leading high profile & strategic negotiations with our core supplier partners & well-known brands.
• Working collaboratively with the Category Development Heads of and Leads on supplier joint business plans as well as our client, finance, sales & culinary teams to drive profit and growth.

Skills required:

• Experience in a wide range of different categories and suppliers across Food, Retail and SES as well as with Wholesalers and Distributors
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to evidence high delivery of results and is committed to attaining the highest levels of commercial success individually and for the team.
• Exceptional negotiation skills
• Expert analytical skills, with an ability to manage and interpret complex data to make effective decisions, to draw conclusions and to communicate recommendations via a holistic approach.
• An excellent team player, who is adaptable and who works well under pressure.
• Experience in managing a team and will provide strong leadership and guidance across the function & is accountable for the results and outputs of their team.
• Evidence of an ability to provide strategic leadership to the function as well as contributing at the operational level.
• Forward thinker with a creative mindset and the ability to create and execute commercial strategies and agreements.
• Effectively manages and priorities multiple demands with the ability to operate at pace in a fluid change environment.
• Client-centric, with the ability to ensure client needs are kept at the forefront of decision making whilst balancing internal requirements.
• Ability to influence multiple stakeholders both internally and externally across a variety of functions and at all levels of the organisation.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families