Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver commercial strategies to ensure safe and trusted food.
- Company: Join the Food Standards Agency, a vital public-sector organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive team, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public health while developing your commercial expertise.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong relationship-building skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.
We are looking for a Commercial Category Manager to play a key role in securing value for money and supporting the delivery of services that help ensure food is safe and trusted. This is an opportunity to join a high performing, supportive commercial team that works closely with colleagues across the organisation to deliver essential outcomes. The role offers the chance to build commercial expertise, influence strategic decisions, and contribute directly to the success of a vital public‑sector organisation.
You will help shape and deliver commercial activity across a range of categories, working with both internal teams and external suppliers. The role is suited to someone who enjoys managing a varied workload, working collaboratively, and building strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers. It also offers scope to develop your skills, contribute to continuous improvement, and become a trusted commercial adviser.
In this role you will develop and maintain category strategies, ensuring the delivery of procurement activity that supports organisational priorities and reflects market insight. You will lead sourcing projects from planning through to contract award, guiding colleagues on the best routes to market and ensuring compliance with procurement regulations. Your work will involve shaping specifications, managing evaluations, and supporting the smooth transition into contract management so that suppliers understand expectations and deliver effectively.
You will engage with key stakeholders to understand requirements, manage risks, and provide clear commercial advice. Alongside this, you will monitor category performance, analyse spend, and identify opportunities to secure improved value for money. You will play an important part in supplier relationship management, supporting regular reviews and helping resolve issues to maintain high quality service delivery. The role also involves contributing to wider commercial improvement initiatives, supporting team development, and applying strong organisational skills to manage deadlines and priorities.
If you’re eager to work in an organisation that makes a real difference and develop your commercial career, we’d love to receive your application.
Commercial Category Manager employer: Food Standards Agency
Contact Detail:
Food Standards Agency Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Category Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the FSA on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the FSA’s recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about their mission of delivering 'food you can trust'.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR technique for answering competency questions. We want to hear about your past experiences in managing supplier relationships and delivering value for money – so be ready to share some solid examples!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows us that you’re genuinely interested in the position. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Category Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement and stakeholder management, showing us how you can contribute to our mission of delivering 'food you can trust'.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past experiences that illustrate your ability to manage varied workloads, build relationships, and deliver value for money. We want to see how you’ve made an impact!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Food Standards Agency
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Commercial Category Manager and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Brush up on procurement regulations, category strategies, and supplier relationship management. This will show that you're not just interested in the job, but that you’re genuinely prepared to take it on.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working closely with internal teams and external suppliers, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Think about times when you’ve built strong relationships or managed varied workloads effectively. This will demonstrate your ability to fit into their supportive commercial team.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the FSA’s current projects, challenges they face in securing value for money, or how they measure success in supplier relationships. This shows your interest in the organisation and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Skills
The role requires monitoring category performance and analysing spend. Be ready to discuss your experience with data analysis and how you’ve used insights to drive improvements. Bring examples of how your analytical skills have led to better decision-making in previous roles.