At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying process for food and non-food products, ensuring quality and value.
- Company: Join a renowned food business with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £65,000, plus opportunities for growth and development.
- Other info: Work cross-functionally and build long-term supplier relationships for continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product quality and customer satisfaction in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 4-5 years of procurement experience in the food industry and strong commercial instincts.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 € per year.
JSS are supporting a well-known food business to recruit a Buying Manager (Food/Non-Food).
The Role
This role goes far beyond traditional procurement. The successful candidate will play a key role in building a commercially successful menu and ensuring products deliver both customer value and strong business performance.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing and challenging cost prices with a clear understanding of value drivers.
- Balancing quality, sourcing and commercial targets while protecting product integrity.
- Supporting decisions on ingredients, suppliers and product formats with both short- and long-term commercial thinking.
- Ensuring consistency and accuracy in product costing and margin delivery.
- Working cross-functionally with food development, finance and operations teams to connect product decisions to operational performance.
- Driving continuous improvement across cost, quality and value strategies.
- Building collaborative, long-term supplier relationships based on partnership and transparency.
The successful candidate will be expected to connect commercial decision-making with operational execution.
About You
The business is looking for someone who combines strong commercial instincts with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
You will likely be:
- Commercially aware, with a strong understanding of margins, pricing and trade-offs.
- 4/5 years of procurement experience within the food related industries.
- Proactive and action-oriented.
- Comfortable working in ambiguity and change.
- Agile, resourceful and able to solve problems independently.
- Passionate about food, ingredients, sourcing and product quality.
Buying Manager in City of London employer: JSS
As a Buying Manager at this renowned food business in London, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work culture that values innovation and excellence. The company offers competitive remuneration, opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to sustainability, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact while developing your career in the food industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying Manager in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend food-related events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Buying Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s products and their market position. We want you to show off your commercial instincts and understanding of margins. Bring your A-game and be ready to discuss how you can drive value in their menu!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buying Manager, you’ll need to manage cost prices effectively. We suggest role-playing scenarios with friends or mentors to boost your confidence before those crucial discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for proactive candidates who are passionate about food and sourcing quality ingredients.
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Buying Manager role. Highlight your procurement experience in the food industry and any relevant achievements that showcase your commercial instincts.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about food and how your proactive mindset can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships or driven cost improvements in the past.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, don’t shy away from discussing challenges you've faced in previous roles. We want to see how you approached ambiguity and change, and what solutions you implemented to drive results.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at JSS
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your understanding of margins, pricing, and cost drivers. Be ready to discuss how you've managed costs in previous roles and how you can apply that knowledge to the Buying Manager position.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Prepare examples that highlight your commercial instincts. Think about times when you balanced quality with cost or made decisions that positively impacted the bottom line. This will demonstrate your ability to connect commercial decision-making with operational execution.
✨Collaborative Mindset
Since this role involves working cross-functionally, be prepared to talk about your experience collaborating with different teams. Share specific instances where you built strong relationships with suppliers or internal stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
✨Embrace Change and Ambiguity
The food industry is always evolving, so show that you're comfortable with change. Discuss how you've navigated ambiguity in past roles and how your proactive, solutions-focused mindset has helped you overcome challenges.
