At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver category strategies for fresh and frozen produce while driving sustainability.
- Company: Join a leading national procurement client with a focus on food innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a contributory pension, healthcare perks, travel discounts, and wellness classes.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the food industry while developing your career strategically.
- Qualifications: Experience as a category manager or senior buyer with a passion for sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
One of our national procurement clients are looking for a Category Development Manager to join their expanding team.
Overall Purpose of the Role
This is an exciting role within our Food Category Team giving you the opportunity to shape, develop and deliver a short, medium & long-term category strategy. With support from your buyer, you will direct all procurement and supplier management strategies across fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables. You will work closely with our chef community to support menu and product development, driving our focus on sustainability, provenance and reducing carbon as a priority. You will also work closely with your suppliers, engaging them on your category strategy and ensuring they are aligned. Your primary responsibility is to deliver our overarching Foodbuy Strategy, drive volume growth, negotiate sustainable commercial terms & provide value and benefit to our clients. You will lead & support planning, negotiating, and executing contract renewals as well as managing supplier relationships. You will engage, inspire & collaborate with our culinary teams & development chefs and support their client food philosophies. You will be known for getting things done and will be a motivating force amongst your team and the wider food team.
Key Responsibilities
- Working collaboratively with the Category Lead to lead your team to develop and execute a long-term category strategy to deliver sustainable improvements in terms of cost, quality, service and innovation, in collaboration with the companies procurement team & other relevant business stakeholders.
- Identify potential new suppliers and producers, visiting, and meeting existing suppliers and producers, building, and maintaining relationships.
- Understand future trends ensuring we are market leading and be able to affect change as needed.
- Deliver financial targets including inflation mitigation, cash & managing debt, new commercial value.
- Develop and maintain long term pricing mechanisms/cost models across subcategories & supply base to drive sustainable, competitive advantage and ensure seasonal supply procured at optimum period.
- Ensure your product range is compliant to food safety regulations & sustainability requirements, assuring high quality standards always and optimise as necessary.
- Support your team’s personal development plans, provide regular training and ensure succession planning in place.
- Support the Category Lead to develop a high performing team culture.
- Be accountable for your category spend.
- Evaluate tenders with the company sourcing team and make recommendations based on commercial, technical, supply and quality requirements, using your category expertise and knowledge.
- Communicate industry trends across the business.
- Regularly review supplier performance to support category growth, identify priorities to drive commercial value.
- Manage category related queries from internal and external stakeholders.
- Support our sales and bid teams when required.
- Schedule Joint Business Plan meetings with strategic partners to deliver new commercial value, deepen supply partnerships.
- Work closely with sustainability teams to deliver programs and commitments.
- Ensure transparent supply chain and traceability.
- Influence & support our companies clients and account teams to adopt our commercial terms and recommendations.
Candidate Profile
- Already operating as a category manager or senior category buyer, looking to develop and progress your career at a more strategic level.
- Results oriented – comfortable delivering against bold and stretching targets.
- Keen to develop your category knowledge and become a subject matter expert.
- Competent with procurement systems, ideally having used these in current/previous employment, ability to develop credible business relationships.
- Competent with Excel and analysing data, with an ability to interpret data to support decision making.
- Passion for sustainability and responsible procurement.
- Experience of influencing and negotiating with suppliers.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Responds positively to changing business priorities.
- Listens to others & values their contributions, receptive to new ideas, acts in an ethical & socially responsible manner.
- Strong attention to detail, energy and resilience.
Reward & Recognition
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits.
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more.
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons and many more.
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster.
- Receive Wow Points every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands.
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families.
For more information contact Nick on nick@greatjobsuk.com
Category Development Manager in City of London employer: Great Jobs UK
Join a dynamic and expanding team as a Category Development Manager, where you will have the opportunity to shape sustainable procurement strategies within the Food Category. Our company fosters a collaborative work culture that prioritises personal development and offers extensive growth opportunities through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes. Enjoy a range of benefits including healthcare access, exclusive travel discounts, and wellness classes, all while contributing to meaningful initiatives focused on sustainability and quality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Development Manager in City of London
✨Join Food Science Communities
Get involved in food science forums and communities, both online and offline. Platforms like LinkedIn Groups or Reddit can be goldmines for job leads and valuable insights. Plus, you’ll connect with other food enthusiasts who might even point you towards openings at companies like Great Jobs UK.
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✨Show Off Your Passion for Food Tech
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We think you need these skills to ace Category Development Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Projects:When applying for a role in food science and technology at Great Jobs UK, make sure to highlight any relevant projects or research you've worked on. Whether it’s a dissertation, a lab experiment, or a product development idea, detail these experiences to demonstrate your hands-on skills in the field—employers love to see practical applications of your knowledge!
Highlight Technical Skills:In the food science and technology industry, technical skills are key. Be sure to list any specific skills you have related to food safety, quality control, or food processing technologies on your CV. Also, mention any software or analytical tools you’re proficient in, as this shows you're ready to hit the ground running at Great Jobs UK.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:As this is a full-time position, your cover letter should convey not just why you want the job, but also how you fit into the company's vision. Talk about your passion for food science and how your background uniquely positions you to contribute to Great Jobs UK. Make it personal and compelling!
Include Certifications:If you have any certifications related to food science, safety, or technology, be sure to mention them. These can really set you apart from other candidates! List them prominently on your CV and discuss how they relate to the role at Great Jobs UK. It shows you're committed to your professional development.
How to prepare for a job interview at Great Jobs UK
✨Know Your Lab Tech!
Given that you’re diving into food science and technology, brush up on the specific technologies and lab equipment mentioned in the job description. Familiarising yourself with tools like gas chromatography or texture analyzers will show that you’re serious about the technical side of things.
✨Show Off Your Project Experience
Prepare to discuss any relevant projects or research you've undertaken in food science. Whether it’s developing a new recipe, conducting taste tests, or analysing nutritional content, having tangible examples can really show off your expertise and passion for the field.
✨Emphasise Your Soft Skills
Don't underestimate the importance of teamwork and communication in food science roles. Be ready to highlight instances where you’ve effectively collaborated with others or communicated complex scientific ideas clearly. This can make a huge difference in landing that full-time gig!
✨Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends
Make sure you’re clued up about the latest trends in food science and technology — think sustainability, food safety, and innovative processing techniques. Discussing these topics during your interview can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the field and how you can contribute to Great Jobs UK’s mission.
