The Global Procurement Category Lead – Restaurant Indirects is responsible for defining and executing global category strategies that optimise total cost of ownership, strengthen supplier partnerships, improve operational resilience, and support Yum! Brands’ restaurant growth agenda across global markets. The role serves as the strategic category authority for restaurant indirect spend, partnering closely with global brand, development, operations, facilities, finance, and franchise stakeholders to deliver sustainable value and competitive advantage.
Responsibilities
The Restaurant Indirects category encompasses global spend associated with the development, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Yum! Brands restaurants. Scope includes construction and fit-out services, architectural and design services, furniture, fixtures and signage, facilities management, utilities, cleaning and sanitation, chemicals, waste and recycling, pest control, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and related operational support services.
Key Responsibilities
Develop, align stakeholders around, and execute multi-year global category strategies that deliver commercial value, operational excellence, risk mitigation, sustainability, and innovation.
Lead complex, multi-country sourcing initiatives and collaborate with regional teams and franchisees to drive adoption and realise benefits.
Conduct high-value negotiations with strategic suppliers to secure optimal commercial outcomes, service performance, operational resilience, and risk reduction.
Monitor global market dynamics, supplier capabilities, inflationary pressures, innovation trends, sustainability developments, and emerging risks across the Restaurant Indirects portfolio.
Influence senior stakeholders across Global Operations, Development, Finance, Brand Leadership, Supply Chain, and Franchisee organisations to align sourcing strategies with business priorities.
Build executive-level relationships with strategic suppliers and represent Yum! Brands in key commercial negotiations, supplier forums, and industry engagements.
Support the implementation of sourcing strategies across markets through effective governance, supplier playbooks, communication plans, and adoption support.
Foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure category strategies align with brand standards, restaurant development plans, facilities requirements, and sustainability objectives.
Drive year-on-year value creation through strategic sourcing, supplier performance improvement, specification optimisation, demand management, and innovation.
Operate effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment, proactively identifying opportunities and solving complex business challenges.
Manage category risks and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies, supplier resilience plans, compliance requirements, and business continuity measures are in place.
Support franchisee engagement and alignment to global and regional sourcing programmes where applicable.
Qualifications
Capabilities & Experience
10+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, or a related commercial discipline, including significant exposure to global or multi-market environments.
5+ years of experience in strategic category management, ideally across restaurant indirects, facilities management, construction services, utilities, sanitation, waste management, MRO, or related operational services.
Proven success managing complex, multi-market supplier portfolios and sourcing programmes across indirect spend categories.
Strong understanding of restaurant development, facilities operations, service delivery models, supplier governance, and franchise business environments.
Deep expertise in strategic sourcing, category strategy development, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and category lifecycle management.
Demonstrated experience negotiating complex regional or global agreements and implementing supplier performance frameworks.
Strong analytical and commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data, financial models, supplier proposals, cost drivers, and market intelligence to support decision-making.
Experience applying total cost of ownership (TCO), should-cost modelling, value engineering, and other value optimisation methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to lead strategically within complex, matrixed, and ambiguous global organisations while balancing competing stakeholder priorities and delivering measurable outcomes.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders without direct authority across international markets.
Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence audiences at all organisational levels.
Resilience, adaptability, and sound judgement when navigating ambiguity and change.
High levels of integrity and commitment to compliance, ethical sourcing, supplier accountability, and responsible business practices.
