At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of packaging procurement and drive sustainability initiatives.
- Company: Join Diageo, a global leader in premium drinks with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Flexible working, career growth, and a diverse, inclusive culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to learn from industry leaders.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global celebrations and innovative packaging solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
Help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world. Join us for career defining opportunities that give you the chance to thrive.
About Us
With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments - from everyday connections to landmark celebrations. Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other. Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.
About the Function
Procurement shapes how we build and grow our brands through the partnerships, services and materials that support our business. Managing over £12bn of spend, this team works across our global supply chain to create value, drive efficiency and support sustainable growth. From supplier partnerships to innovation, their work has a direct impact on the quality and success of our brands. You’ll collaborate with teams and partners around the world, helping deliver solutions that meet today’s needs while shaping what comes next.
About the Role
As a Global Market Category Specialist - Primary Pack, you will join our newly created Global Primary Packaging Team, reporting to the Global Primary Packaging Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of Primary Packaging Procurement, supporting our long-term vision and delivering productivity ambitions over the next three to five years. At Diageo, our Procurement function combines the strength of global category expertise with in-market execution. As part of the Global Category team, you will focus on developing long-term category strategies, identifying innovative opportunities, and bringing external market insight to keep Procurement at the forefront of the industry. Working closely with our regional Centres of Excellence and in-market teams, you'll help translate strategy into practical, future-focused solutions that deliver value across the business. Our Procurement team is focused on creating holistic value, accelerating innovation, and transforming the sustainability performance of our end-to-end supply chain. Delivering against our ESG ambitions is central to our Spirit of Progress strategy, and our people remain at the heart of everything we do. As a change agent, you will help shape the future of the Primary Packaging category, driving both commercial and sustainability outcomes. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, suppliers and external partners, you will bring industry-leading thinking, benchmark best practice, and ensure Diageo remains ahead of emerging market trends and regulatory developments.
Role responsibilities:
- Build and develop expertise across the Primary Packaging category, becoming a trusted subject matter expert and sharing knowledge across the global Procurement community.
- Develop category strategies by analysing market dynamics, understanding business requirements, identifying opportunities and recommending innovative solutions.
- Generate market intelligence and benchmarking insights to inform strategic decision-making and identify opportunities for value creation.
- Develop cost models, analytics and sourcing strategies that support continuous improvement and long-term category performance.
- Build strong relationships with business stakeholders, suppliers and strategic partners to understand priorities and deliver greater commercial value.
- Lead and support strategic sourcing activities for global and above-market spend categories, applying Procurement best practice throughout the sourcing lifecycle.
- Lead commercial negotiations, contract development and contract management, ensuring strong governance, compliance and supplier performance.
- Identify and mitigate commercial, supply and strategic risks through robust planning, governance and proactive supplier engagement.
- Support Market Centres of Excellence in executing category strategies and driving consistency across markets and supplier performance.
- Build collaborative supplier partnerships that encourage innovation, continuous improvement and long-term value creation while supporting Diageo's sustainability ambitions.
Experience / skills required:
We're looking for someone who is commercially minded, collaborative and driven to deliver exceptional results. You'll bring a strategic approach to procurement, strong influencing skills and the ability to build lasting partnerships across a complex, global organisation.
- Proven experience in category management, with a strong track record of leading complex, large-scale procurement projects across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Strong knowledge of procurement best practice, strategic sourcing and category management methodologies.
- Experience managing procurement categories within an international or global environment.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver procurement strategies that create commercial value while supporting broader business and sustainability objectives.
- Confident influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation.
- Proven experience working across end-to-end supply chains, including close collaboration with Sales, Marketing and other business functions.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience leading regional or global sourcing initiatives involving multiple business partners.
- Highly skilled negotiator, with experience delivering successful outcomes across high-value, complex commercial agreements.
- Committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative way of working, with diversity and inclusion at the heart of how you lead and build relationships.
- Degree qualified or equivalent professional experience. An MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.
Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible. We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team. Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.
Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.
Global Market Category Specialist Primary Pack - AGILE employer: Diageo España SA
At Diageo España SA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions creativity and personal growth. As an Experiential Spirits Sales Associate in Greater London, you'll enjoy flexible working hours, comprehensive training, and the opportunity to engage with luxury brands while building meaningful relationships with customers. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values your contributions and supports your professional development in the exciting world of premium beverages.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Market Category Specialist Primary Pack - AGILE
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Market Category Specialist Primary Pack - AGILE
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Diageo España SA that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Diageo España SA can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Diageo España SA that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Diageo España SA know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Diageo España SA
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
