Category Sourcing Manager - Direct Materials

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Category Sourcing Manager – Direct Materials, London

Client:

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference:

8ea5136d3760

Job Views:

4

Posted:

02.05.2025

Expiry Date:

16.06.2025

Job Description:

Category Sourcing Manager – Direct Materials
12 Fixed Term Contract (FTC)

About Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

Founded by British makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury MBE in 2013, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty has revolutionised the face of the global beauty industry by de-coding makeup applications for everyone, everywhere, with an easy-to-use, easy-to-choose, easy-to-gift range. Today, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty continues to break records across countries, channels, and categories and to scale at pace.

Over the last 10 years, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty has experienced exceptional growth and is one of the most talked about brands in the beauty industry and beyond. It has become a global sensation across 50 markets (and growing), with over 2,300 employees globally who are part of the Dream Team making the magic happen.

Today, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty is a truly global business, delivering market-leading growth, innovative retail and product launches fuelled by industry-leading tech — all with an internal culture of embracing challenges, disruptive thinking, winning together, and sharing the magic. The energy behind the brand is infectious, and as we grow, we are always looking for extraordinary talent who want to be part of this our success and help drive our limitless ambitions.

About the role

We are looking for a dynamic individual with procurement experience to meet the needs of the key Category Manager responsibilities, working within a fast-paced environment, ideally from within the Luxury Cosmetic or Personal Care industry.

The individual will own the commercial relationships with suppliers across their category and have a global remit in material sourcing and cost reduction activities. Key categories include primary and secondary packaging materials and support of third-party contract manufacturer cost initiatives. A lead role will be taken in managing NPD activity across Colour, Skincare, or Accessories, ensuring overall COGS & margin are optimized with a priority on NPD margin benefits.

Key projects include defining a sourcing strategy for NPD, working closely with Product, Packaging, and Supply Chain teams to source effectively, achieve the best commercials, deliver projects on time, and minimize risk.

Additional support projects will also be part of the role.

As a Category Sourcing Manager – Direct Materials you will:

• New Product Development : Ensure sustainable, competitive sourcing for innovation, shade extension, and reformulation projects, supporting NPD/Ops teams to execute projects according to strategy, holding suppliers accountable for cost and timelines.
• VAVE : Manage cost and efficiency-focused VAVE pipeline for sampling, accessories, packaging, formula, manufacturing efficiencies, or supplier changes in coordination with Ops teams.
• SRM : Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, ensuring supply chain efficiency and profitability, assessing performance, and working to improve capabilities.
• Onboarding : Manage new supplier qualification and onboarding, including RFI approval and contract negotiations.
• Contract Negotiation : Lead negotiations to ensure competitive pricing and favorable terms, collaborating with Legal and other departments.
• Category Strategy : Develop and execute sourcing strategies, understanding manufacturing capabilities, market analysis, supplier evaluation, and selection in line with company requirements.
• Cost Management : Identify cost-saving opportunities, negotiate pricing, monitor market trends, and conduct benchmarking to ensure cost efficiency.
• Support to Operations : Manage performance, quality, and cost-related issues as a first escalation point.
• Compliance and Sustainability : Stay updated on tariffs, regulations, drive sustainable sourcing, and support CSR goals.
• Index Tracking : Monitor market indexes and pricing trends to proactively identify savings opportunities.
• Cross-functional Collaboration : Work with internal stakeholders to align sourcing with business objectives and communicate requirements effectively.
• Sampling and Minis : Oversee NPD sampling activities to ensure strategic alignment and cost savings.
• PUIG Synergies : Collaborate with PUIG teams on sourcing synergies, joint reviews, and site visits.

Essential Competencies

• Ability to quickly assimilate and communicate new data and information.
• Extreme attention to detail, working efficiently at a fast pace.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience with sourcing tenders, RFQ processes, and VAVE project management.
• Strong commercial, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently.
• Creative and adaptable mindset.
• Tenacity to challenge and improve processes and supplier base.

About you

• Proven experience in global procurement/strategic sourcing, preferably in luxury cosmetics or personal care.
• Experience with PowerBI and data-driven decision-making.
• Knowledge of market dynamics, pricing trends, and index tracking.
• Extensive experience in buying colour cosmetics and understanding of manufacturing processes and cost savings.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel expertise.
• Understanding of quality assurance, compliance, risk management, and legal sourcing aspects.
• Low-Cost Country Sourcing experience is a plus.
• Comfort with ambiguous/incomplete information and source-to-contract tools.

Charlotte Tilbury offers a fast-paced, dynamic environment with flexible working, attractive benefits, and a mission to empower everyone to be their best. We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

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