Buyer

Buyer At AVE, our Buyers own the sourcing strategy that keeps our education, hospitality and care clients supplied with the right products, at the right cost, from the right suppliers. This role takes full ownership of a category portfolio - from market analysis and supplier negotiation through to contract management and risk - working closely with Marketing, QHSE, Operations and Food Teams to deliver a joined-up offer to our clients. The Role As a Buyer at AVE, you'll own the end-to-end sourcing strategy for your category within the education, hospitality and care sectors. You'll balance cost, quality, sustainability and compliance, building strong supplier relationships and using market insight to keep AVE and its clients ahead of the curve. You'll achieve this by: Developing and executing category sourcing strategies that reflect sector-specific needs, balancing quality, cost and sustainability Identifying cost-saving opportunities and implementing efficient procurement processes without compromising quality or service delivery Identifying, evaluating and onboarding suppliers, then negotiating contracts and terms that meet sector-specific and regulatory requirements Owning the supplier relationship: conducting regular business reviews, managing performance, accreditation and ROI, and driving corrective action where required Conducting market analysis and research to track sector trends, pricing, innovation and regulatory change, and adapting strategy accordingly Maintaining accurate category and supplier data, managing client approved product lists, and championing system and data improvements Owning supplier due diligence and risk management, ensuring robust processes are in place and risks are reported and tracked Managing category budgets, income and discounts, and providing commercial recommendations to support wider business planning Working cross-functionally with Marketing, QHSE, Operations and Food Teams to deliver a consistent client offer Your Skills: We're looking for someone who is: Experienced in category management, strategic sourcing or procurement, ideally across education, hospitality, care or another multi-site regulated sector Commercially astute, with a track record of delivering quantifiable cost savings and managing budgets or income targets A confident negotiator, comfortable owning supplier contracts and relationships end-to-end Analytical, with the ability to translate market and performance data into clear commercial recommendations Comfortable managing risk and supplier due diligence, including commercial, food safety and contractual requirements A strong collaborator, able to work across teams and communicate confidently at all levels Organised and self-motivated, able to manage a varied workload and shifting priorities What We Offer: Start date: October 2026 Work-life balance: Primarily office-based, with occasional opportunities for home working and flexible working arrangements. Annual Leave: 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays Health