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- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing projects and deliver value for clients in food procurement.
- Company: Join Foodbuy Group, the UK's top food procurement organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on career development and market insights.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable sourcing and drive innovation in procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic sourcing and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Location: London/Chertsey/Hybrid
Function: Strategic Sourcing
About Foodbuy Group
Foodbuy Group is the UK's leading food procurement organisation, managing over GBP2bn of spend across foodservice and hospitality. Part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a FTSE 100 business, Foodbuy works with a diverse client base to deliver expert procurement, commercial insight and responsible growth across food and non-food categories.
About the role
Our Strategic Sourcing function plays a critical role in ensuring we deliver the right products and services, at the right price, while supporting wider strategic priorities including Net Zero, Social Value and supply chain integrity. As a Strategic Sourcing Manager, you'll be a key contributor to the delivery of Foodbuy's strategic sourcing agenda. You'll lead and execute sourcing strategies across significant spend categories, taking projects to market in line with the Foodbuy Procurement Framework and delivering clearly demonstrable value for clients. Working closely with Category Development, Category Business Management, Supply Chain and Account teams, you'll help deliver sourcing excellence across an average of GBP250m annual spend. You'll also play a key role in driving innovation in sourcing approaches, tools and outcomes, while developing and coaching a high‑performing team.
Key responsibilities
- Own and deliver sourcing outcomes across projects within your remit, aligned to the Foodbuy three-year strategy
- Lead and manage multiple tenders, either directly or through a team of buyers, depending on category complexity
- Ensure sourcing activity delivers against or exceeds agreed targets, following best practice and procurement frameworks
- Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and internal teams to identify future value‑creation opportunities
- Raise the profile of Strategic Sourcing by clearly articulating outcomes and value internally and to clients
- Lead, coach and develop buyers to maximise performance and capability
- Identify market trends and best‑in‑class procurement practices, applying insight to sourcing strategies
- Horizon scan upcoming projects, contract expirations and market movements to support a proactive, strategic approach
- Manage commodity and business risk, documenting and demonstrating mitigation strategies
- Research and monitor commodity markets and macro‑economic trends
- Support sustainable sourcing initiatives and contracting compliance
About you
- Strong experience in strategic sourcing and/or category management within retail, foodservice or FMCG
- Working knowledge of end‑to‑end supply chains
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally
- Strong commercial acumen and confident decision‑maker, comfortable working under pressure
- Track record of delivering cost reduction in challenging market conditions
- Experience managing and developing buyers to improve performance
- Demonstrated strategic procurement capability beyond tactical tendering
- Strong negotiation, facilitation and conflict‑management skills
Desirable:
- Degree in a relevant discipline
- Commodity management experience
- MCIPS/CIPS qualified or working towards
Strategic Sourcing Manager employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd
Contact Detail:
Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Sourcing Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to build relationships that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their strategic sourcing approach and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to shine and show them why you're the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Strategic Sourcing Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to influence and negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to boost your confidence before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Strategic Sourcing Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Sourcing Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Strategic Sourcing Manager role. Highlight your experience in strategic sourcing and category management, and don’t forget to showcase your ability to influence stakeholders and deliver cost reductions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for Foodbuy Group. Mention specific projects or achievements that align with the responsibilities of the role, like managing tenders or driving innovation in sourcing.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use examples from your past experiences to show how you’ve successfully navigated complex sourcing challenges or developed high-performing teams. This will help us see your potential impact at Foodbuy.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Strategic Sourcing Manager, you'll be dealing with significant spend categories. Brush up on your financial acumen and be ready to discuss how you've delivered cost reductions in previous roles. Prepare specific examples that showcase your ability to manage budgets and achieve savings.
✨Understand the Market
Research current trends in the food procurement industry, especially around sustainability and supply chain integrity. Be prepared to discuss how these trends can impact sourcing strategies and how you can leverage them to create value for clients.
✨Build Relationships
Strong relationships are key in this role. Think about how you've successfully influenced stakeholders in the past. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your negotiation skills and your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive sourcing excellence.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
You'll be leading and coaching a team of buyers, so it's important to demonstrate your leadership style. Prepare to discuss how you've developed team members in the past and how you plan to foster a high-performing culture within the team at Foodbuy.