At a Glance
- Tasks: Support strategic sourcing and manage supplier performance for key spend categories.
- Company: Join AG Barr, a leading brand with a commitment to diversity and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 34 days holiday, flexible benefits, and ongoing professional development.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make an impact in procurement while working with iconic brands like IRN-BRU.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong Excel skills, and excellent communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 34650 - 42350 £ per year.
Location: Any of our HUBS (Cumbernauld, Middlebrook, Milton Keynes, London)
Contract and working pattern: 37.5 hours per week
We are all about Being Your Best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter! Employing around 850 people across the UK, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.
For 150 years AG Barr has been building great brands and is home to some of the nations favourite flavours. At our core is IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand, Boost making every moment better with a caffeine kick, hydration hit or tasty treat, and FUNKIN where real fruit means authentic taste. We also have a number of exciting owned brands within our portfolio including MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges.
What we’re looking for… We’re looking for a category specialist to support the end-to-end strategic sourcing process and manage the commercial health of specific spend categories. The Category Specialist bridges the gap between transactional buying and high-level category strategy, ensuring the business gets maximum value, minimal risk, and full contract compliance. The role will report to the relevant Category Manager and offer support as required.
As our Category Specialist you will be responsible for…
- Strategic Sourcing Support: Lead the execution of RFPs (Request for Proposal) and RFQs (Request for Quote). This includes market research, vendor pre-qualification, analyzing complex bid submissions and the creation and maintenance of assigned category strategies.
- Negotiation: You are able to lead tactical negotiations to ensure the best financial value is delivered for the business balanced with non-financial requirements.
- Spend Analytics: Use data to identify "Savings Levers." You will analyze spend patterns to spot opportunities for consolidation or specification improvement and ensure the savings funnel is continuously filled with new ideas.
- Supplier Performance Management (SRM): Manage delegated categories of our supplier base. You will track KPIs to ensure they meet contractual obligations and ensure through regular suppliers meetings any non-conformance is addressed.
- Contract Lifecycle Management: Act as the custodian of the category’s contracts. You’ll ensure that all renewals are planned at least 6 months in advance and the category manager is fully aware of the renewal plan. Including monthly PPV delivery, proactively managing risk registers and ensuring all other reporting requirements are met.
- Market Intelligence: Stay abreast of external market factors (inflation, raw material indices, or labour shifts) that might impact the cost of your categories and ensure learnings are built into Category strategies.
- Stakeholder Influence: Act as a consultant to internal departments. You help them define what they need versus what they want to ensure the business doesn't overspend on unnecessary specifications.
What you’ll bring…
- Experience in Procurement, ideally within a FMCG environment.
- Commercial Curiosity: An ability to look at an invoice and ask, "Why are we paying this, and is there a better way to buy it?"
- Technical Skills: Advanced Excel is a must (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) to clean "messy" spend data into a clear story. AI prompting to ensure AI is deployed to improve data interrogation and automate repetitive tasks. Ability to quickly create compelling presentations for internal and external purposes.
- Negotiation: Comfortable with "principled negotiation"—focusing on value and long-term partnership rather than just the lowest price.
- Project Management: Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously without missing contract expiry deadlines. Represent Procurement on Mid tier Commercial projects ensuring active participation in all project meetings, all actions are completed and provide management summaries on progress.
- Communication: Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) to maintain professional relationships internally and externally.
What we offer… We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent. We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes;
- Up to 34 days holiday (depending on shift pattern)
- Flexible holiday trading
- Living Wage Employer
- Healthcare Cash Plan
- Peppy Health
- Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashback, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
- Life assurance
- Save as you earn scheme
- Staff sales discount
- Free AG Barr products throughout your working day
- Pension
- Annual salary review
- Ongoing professional development
- And much more!
To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our careers platform here. We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition. Our large factories produce multi formats across a number of high speed modern lines, to high quality standards whilst maximising production outputs and minimising overhead costs and whilst we have highlighted our ideal requirements for this role, we are realistic that the successful candidate probably won't meet every single requirement in this advert, but we are big advocates of people growing in role. So even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to submit an application - you may be just what we are looking for! Apply now!
Speculative CVs from agencies will not be accepted. Latest closing date for applications is 21st September. Please note, we may close vacancies early where we receive significant numbers of applications, so apply now!
Category Specialist in Cumbernauld employer: AG Barr
AG Barr is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and growth of its employees, offering a vibrant work culture in Cumbernauld. With a commitment to diversity, community engagement, and environmental responsibility, we provide extensive benefits including up to 34 days of holiday, a flexible cash pot for personal benefits, and a defined contribution pension plan. Join us to lead innovative engineering strategies in a company that values your contributions and fosters meaningful career development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Specialist in Cumbernauld
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like AG Barr.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Specialist in Cumbernauld
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to AG Barr:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to AG Barr. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like AG Barr.
How to prepare for a job interview at AG Barr
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at AG Barr!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at AG Barr. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into AG Barr's culture.
