Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategy, manage budgets, and strengthen supplier relationships in a dynamic food environment.
- Company: Join Gousto, a fast-growing recipe box company on a mission to revolutionise dinner in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, inclusivity, and a supportive team culture with great perks.
- Why this job: Make a direct impact on customer experience while working in a passionate, diverse team.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in procurement, negotiation, and category management; ideally GAP trained.
- Other info: Gousto values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds; apply even if you don't meet every requirement.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
Company Description
Here at Gousto, we are on a mission to become the UK\’s most loved way to eat dinner, and for every meal to leave the planet better off. Gousto is changing how people shop, cook and eat food at home. It\’s an incredibly exciting time to join our team – and we\’re a friendly bunch!
We\’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK. Powered by data and a love of food, we\’re a recipe box company that\’s disrupting the sector, and we\’re passionate about our diverse team and our customers.
All of our people are responsible for the success of Gousto, and we\’re passionate about creating an inclusive environment for all to thrive. Our guiding values – Dream, Deliver and Care – show our commitment to innovation, our ambition to hit goals at speed, and our deep respect for the people we work with.
Job Description
We have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a Senior Category Lead to join our team here at Gousto. Reporting to the Director of Buying, you will lead categories including chilled & protein, own the strategic roadmap-driving savings, elevating quality, ensuring regulatory compliance, and strengthening supplier relationships. As the category expert, you\’ll forecast budgets, track commodities, manage risks, and work cross-functionally to launch innovation and responsible sourcing programmes.
In addition you will manage a small but mighty team of category experts, while collaborating with other Category Lead across the team. Food is at the heart of Gousto, this is an incredible opportunity to have a direct impact on the customer while continuing to elevate the customer experience!
Core Responsibilities
- Execute defined category strategy, aligning with Procurement procedures
- Ensure legislative & regulatory compliance across all sub-categories
- Drive delivery of targets, including savings, service levels, quality, and value chain KPIs
- Lead category reviews and build long-term plans (include consortium, MvB, NPD, responsibility work)
- Manage annual budget and monthly re-forecasting
- Monitor commodity pricing vs. contract, leveraging data for decisions
- Develop mitigation strategies for commodity risk
- Lead senior-level supplier relationships, setting and enforcing performance metrics
- Liaise with internal stakeholders (incl. Group companies) to understand demand and align strategy
- Oversee administrative compliance across department needs
- Mentor junior team members; deputise for Buying Director when required
- Lead cross-category or cross-functional supplier-related projects
Who you are:
- Deep expertise in negotiation, contract law, value engineering, forecasting & commodity analysis
- Proven track record in manufacturing or grocery retail procurement
- Managing chilled and / or protein categories would be hugely beneficial
- Commercial Drive, proactive, relentless on cost, knows your numbers, has a plan
- Strong thinking skills-analysis, decision-making, planning
- Strategic Thinking, Independent, creative, balanced in recommendations
- Communication & Influence, adapts style, presents clearly, gains buy-in at all levels
- Leadership, inspires, coaches, improves procurement processes
- Team Orientation, prioritises company-wide success over personal/team goals
- Customer Focus, Understands customer needs, becomes category expert
Qualifications
- Ideally GAP trained (or equivalent)
Additional Information
Benefits
Click here to see our company benefits!
Interview Process
- Call with a Talent Acquisition
- 1st stage interview with Hiring Manager
- 2nd stage interview / task with stakeholder
- 3rd stage interview meeting the team
Gousto is for everyone:
Whether it\’s creating diversity in our recipes or building new teams, we care about our people and the opportunities they have at Gousto. Across our business we lead with inclusivity and strive for equality in all we do; working hard to ensure Gousto is an environment where you can be totally yourself.
Everyone is welcome and we\’re looking for applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
Excited but wondering if you tick every box? We recommend applying anyway so that we can review your profile . And, if you\’re in a job share, why not just apply as a pair.
For our roles outside of Operations, most of our people spend 1 or 2 days in our offices every week, combining the benefits of flexibility and time together with colleagues. We want to enable you to do your best work, and if you require additional flexibility, please talk to us about it.
If you have a disability that you\’re worried will affect you during the interview process, please let us know and we will do our best to help you feel comfortable.
We\’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please let us know.
#LI-SN
#LI-hybrid
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Category Lead employer: Gousto
Contact Detail:
Gousto Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Gousto's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and customer experience will help you align your approach during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing chilled and protein categories specifically. Highlight any successful strategies you've implemented in procurement that align with Gousto's goals of quality and savings.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your negotiation skills and experience with supplier relationships. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully managed senior-level supplier interactions and driven performance metrics.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your ability to work cross-functionally. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with different teams to launch innovative projects or improve procurement processes, as this is crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in procurement, particularly in managing chilled and protein categories. Use specific examples that demonstrate your negotiation skills and strategic thinking.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food and how it aligns with Gousto's mission. Mention your understanding of their values - Dream, Deliver, and Care - and how you embody these in your professional life.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your leadership experience, especially in mentoring teams and driving cross-functional projects. Provide examples of how you've inspired others and improved procurement processes in previous roles.
Highlight Data-Driven Decision Making: Gousto values data-driven insights. Include instances where you've leveraged data for commodity analysis or risk management, showcasing your ability to make informed decisions that align with business goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gousto
✨Showcase Your Category Expertise
As a Senior Category Lead, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of category management, especially in chilled and protein sectors. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully managed these categories in the past, focusing on your strategic approach and results.
✨Highlight Your Negotiation Skills
Negotiation is key in this role. Be ready to discuss your experience with supplier relationships and contract negotiations. Share instances where your negotiation skills led to significant savings or improved supplier performance.
✨Emphasise Data-Driven Decision Making
Gousto values data-driven insights. Prepare to talk about how you've used data for forecasting, risk management, and decision-making in previous roles. Bring examples of how your analytical skills have positively impacted category performance.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Team Collaboration
As you'll be managing a small team, it's important to showcase your leadership style. Discuss how you mentor junior team members and foster collaboration across departments. Highlight any successful cross-functional projects you've led.
