Head of Buying

The goal is simple, to make healthy eating easy. To do this we need your support, building a scalable and maintainable rails eco-system. If you would like to join one of the UK’s fastest growing scale-ups and make a positive impact on people's lives, then we would love to speak with you.

As a proud B-Corp we focus on using business as a force for good. We do this by balancing people and planet with profit. For every recipe box bought we donate the equivalent of a school meal to a less developed country (over 10 million meals donated and counting…) and we have also pledged to go Net Zero by 2030 but there are so many other initiatives that we would love to tell you about.

What we are looking for

• Procurement:
  • You will be responsible for delivering COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) targets on all ingredients, Ready to Go products, GNFR (Goods Not For Resale), and packaging.
  • You will drive cost-effective sourcing plans, always balancing cost, quality, brand, and customer experience.
  • You will manage your own category and coach your team of buyers to design their own sourcing strategies. You will take overall responsibility for the execution of these plans.
• Collaboration:
  • You will work closely with the Technical, Kitchen, Supply Chain, Ops, and Finance teams to bring new products and propositions to market efficiently.
  • You will communicate effectively with other Heads of Departments to ensure alignment and smooth product development and launches.
• Supplier Relationships:
  • You will build and nurture strong relationships with suppliers in your category.
  • You will act as the escalation point for suppliers in other categories, ensuring issues are handled effectively and efficiently.
• Innovation:
  • You will drive innovation by continuously searching for new ingredients and opportunities to enhance the customer offering.
  • You will inspire your team to think creatively and collaborate with the Kitchen and Technical teams to introduce new products and exciting propositions to customers.
• Sustainability:
  • You will actively seek out alternatives to plastic packaging and reduce Mindful Chef's overall environmental impact.
  • You will deliver sustainable solutions that not only meet customer expectations but also align with the company’s sustainability goals.
• Risk Management:
  • You will ensure your team works closely with the Technical team to implement robust risk management processes, particularly around supplier governance and ingredient quality, to protect the company's value proposition.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• COGS Delivery: You will be accountable for delivering COGS targets on ingredients, Ready to Go products, and GNFR.
• CPTU Reduction: You will drive year-over-year reduction in Cost Per Transaction Unit (CPTU).
• Sustainability Impact: You will reduce the percentage of non-recyclable plastic in overall packaging.

You are

• Experienced in Procurement: You have a proven track record of managing food buying teams and are an excellent negotiator.
• Research-Oriented: You are driven to deeply understand and map supply chains, interrogating cost structures and quality to find opportunities for value creation.
• Commercially Savvy: You have strong commercial acumen and a delivery-focused mindset.
• Customer-Focused: You obsess over providing the best quality for the end customer.
• A Team Player: You have excellent collaboration skills and emotional intelligence to support and guide your team.
• Organized: You excel at structured communication and planning in a fast-paced environment.
• Technically Knowledgeable: You have a good working understanding of food safety regulations.
• A Creative Problem-Solver: You are a proactive and positive thinker who approaches challenges with unconventional solutions and challenges established norms.

You willYour profileWhy us?

• A competitive salary
• Hybrid/ Remote Working – typically employees are in the office twice a week however we are happy to discuss remote (UK based only) if travel to Wandsworth / London is tricky for your personal circumstances.
• We are a rapidly growing profitable B-Corp, this means you will be working for a purpose led company. Using your best skills, you will make a positive impact to the 3 “Ps”: profit, people and planet.
• We've built one of the most admired startups in the UK and won a whole bunch of awards.
• We have the backing of the largest food and beverage company in the world.
• Our lovely office in Wandsworth is meant to feel like home: you will have free breakfast, lunch and snacks, a gym with Peloton bikes, a vertical farm and if you have a furry friend at home, they are welcome too.
• We also take your well-being seriously with free Vitality health insurance, discounted Calm and FIIT apps, lots of mental health first-aiders, daily sunshine hour, and a structured mental health calendar for the whole year.
• Holidays: you will have a total of 38 days’ holidays per year, where 5 days can be rolled over each year. It is important to switch off.
• Who doesn’t love a discount? You will get a 50% discount on all Mindful Chef products: recipe boxes, frozen meals, smoothies, soups, breakfast and desserts.
• Your newborn is special: 6 months full pay primary parental leave, 6 weeks full pay secondary parental leave.

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