Buying Manager - Protein

About The Role

Join Our Dynamic Operations Team at Forza! We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a Manager - Buying (Protein) to become a vital part of our Procurement Team, based at our protein packaging facility in Normanton. If you are passionate about Production & Leadership, and are eager to contribute to a dynamic team, this role is perfect for you!

Position Details

• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
• Location: Forza, Normanton – Site based
• Contract Type: Permanent

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Build and implement sourcing strategy & sourcing activities required to support critical business needs across defined categories.
• Create strong relationships with Site Operations, Planning, NPD and Technical teams to understand business needs and direction.
• Develop and implement category sourcing plans that support the Business strategic intent, including programs to assure continuous and quality supply to sites while containing and reducing cost.
• Provide regular reporting on purchasing activity, supplier performance and market activity.
• Drive the delivery of a culture which promotes a strategy that is effective, consistent, efficient and leverages best practices.
• ‘Live and breathe’ the company values and develop an engaged workforce.
• Drive a momentum that will provide succession and development of our people to retain and grow future leaders within our business.
• Recognise and praise exceptional performance that underpins our company values.
• Support Delivery of Category Plan / And KPI targets, for Sales, GBI, incremental benefit, CPMU targets and Market share growth.
• Develop a procurement plan in conjunction with the Category Manager & Technical Manager that delivers the required margin, quality and availability and is based on an understanding of market conditions.
• Review the sourcing strategy to both provide new and improved varieties and products within the category scope, to exceed the expectations of our customers, whilst driving cost out of existing products/vendors/supply chains.
• Communicate with suppliers and other elements of the supply chain to enable them to deliver effectively.
• Support the control of stock in conjunction with the planner, liaising with internal and external operations teams to deliver lowest cost supply route to market.
• Provide the business with a forward projection of supply to enable effective business planning.
• Administer the buying process, GSCOP records, price confirmation, processing of claims.
• Liaising with Administrators to ensure weekly and month end processes are completed in a timely accurate manner, to ensure finance reports accurately reflect category position.
• Utilise & be experienced with market analysis and insight tools to identify opportunities, analyse performance and validate decisions.
• Optimise store space and review throughout the year to enable key sales, waste and OSCA/In stock key metrics are met.
• Ensuring the technical RM buying specifications are being adhered to at all times.
• Manage the tendering process for assigned categories, ensuring the negotiation and implementation of best value contracts taking account of the Total Cost of Ownership, using a variety of approaches.
• Oversight for cost management of assigned portfolio(s) supply across IPL sites to ensure budget requirements are met.

What are we looking for:

• MCIPS accreditation (preferable).
• Certification on the Ethics & Legality of Product Supply and Negotiation (preferable).
• Experience of developing and implementing category strategies.
• At least 2 years in the Meat/ Poultry industry.
• Relevant buying experience in the Protein category.
• Demonstrable record of accomplishment of cost saving procurement solutions implemented.
• Must be an advocate for delivering outstanding customer service.
• Integrity & credibility with a record of accomplishment of delivery of financial targets.
• Strong leadership skills that demonstrate a capability to motivate colleagues, teams and business units.
• Good networker, leader and negotiator.
• Be successful, self-directed, flexible and tactical.
• High quality communication and presentation dexterity.
• Ability to handle high levels of pressure and critical decision-making.
• Advanced Excel skills.

What’s in it for you:

At IPL, Forza, and Kober, we are dynamic businesses, dedicated to fostering the development of our colleagues and creating an exceptional work environment. We believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration to drive our success. To continue our growth, we are seeking individuals who embody our values, culture, and commitment. In return, we offer opportunities for professional development, a competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15% Asda In‑store Discount.
• Paid Annual Leave Allowance – varies depending on shift pattern.
• Enhanced pension scheme.
• Life Assurance – All our colleagues benefit from life assurance of 4 x their annual base salary.
• Help@hand – Free, direct access to health and wellbeing support service, including unlimited video consultations with a UK‑based GP 24/7, physiotherapy, and mental health support.
• Grocery Aid – We’ve partnered with Grocery Aid to provide our colleagues and their families with a wide range of emotional, practical, and financial support services.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme.
• Asda Mobile Discount – 30% off a wide range of Asda Mobile bundles and add‑ons for our colleagues and one of their family members.
• Discounted health assessments – We have exclusively negotiated rates on Self‑Pay BUPA Health Assessments for you and members of your household.
• Asda Pet Insurance discount – Up to 10% Discount.
• Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) – MAB can provide fee‑free*, no‑obligation mortgage and protection advice.
• Exclusive Exchange Rates via Asda Money – our colleagues can get a better exchange rate for their travel money when buying currency through Asda Travel Money (TravelEx).
• Ride‑to‑work scheme – We work with Evans to provide our colleagues with great savings across their range of bikes, clothing, and equipment.
• Care Concierge – The Care Experts. Talk to us – we’re listening – Legal & General’s Care Concierge resource plus, lots more!

Depending on job band, other fantastic benefits are also available including private healthcare, car allowances, and long‑term incentive schemes.

Like what you’ve read? Then do your research, update your CV, and once you’re ready, hit the apply button. Don’t delay, apply today!

About Us

Our purpose here at IPL, Forza & Kober is simple, we are one team who creates exceptional value for our customers and our mission is to support Asda on their journey to becoming #2 in the marketplace. Through our people we live and breathe our values and we play to our strengths, but we also support each other’s development. We are a community of passionate individuals who possess a wide variety of skills and expertise, who work collectively to form a high performing team and a company to be proud of. We are committed to a fully inclusive business that is representative of our customers, locations and the communities we serve. We recognise the value in diversity and welcome applications from all candidates regardless of sex, age, race, religion, gender or sexual identity and socio‑economic background. We are committed to making IPL, Forza and Kober a place where everyone can enjoy a successful career and have systems in place to support all our colleagues. We are seeking applications from candidates who share our values, culture and celebrate diversity in all its forms. Our culture is our people and our people are our culture!