At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead contract negotiations and manage supplier relationships to ensure top-notch service.
- Company: Join Tails.com, a pioneering dog food subscription service backed by Purina, changing pet nutrition for good.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, hybrid work, 25+ days of holiday, health insurance, and discounts on products.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-growing team that values innovation, collaboration, and making a real impact in pet care.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in services procurement with strong negotiation skills and excellent communication abilities.
- Other info: Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply; we value unique perspectives in our team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Changing the world of pet food for good
We’re Tails.com, a dog food subscription company with a big difference. We create truly tailored food for each and every dog we serve. We start by asking people a few simple questions about their dog. Then we use that information to create their dog’s unique Tails.com recipe – so their dog gets exactly the nutrition they need, in the taste they love, delivered to their door every month. It’s clever stuff.
We’ve got bold plans. Having created an entirely new category in pet food, we’re now scaling fast in the UK and Europe – backed by Purina, one of the world’s largest pet food companies. You’ll join a bunch of smart people working towards the same goals – and a bunch of smart-ish dogs, all working on their own thing.
Together, we’ll change the world of pet food for good.
People. Process. Planning.
That’s what sourcing and procurement at Tails.com is all about. People first – because it takes good people to build the kind of long-term, trusted partnerships with suppliers that we do, and it takes great people to create and deliver an exceptional product.
Process, because we can only do what we do by being able to see how the whole system – physical product, digital product, and personal service – fits together. Then we make these complex processes as simple and streamlined as possible. So our team are pattern-spotters, insight-hunters, and change-makers; people ready to be flexible, adaptable, and help us improve in everything we do.
And planning, because we’re here to see as much of the future as we can – to make sure we have enough food for the dogs we serve. We’ve been data-driven from day one, finding new and better ways to draw the insights that help us plan for next week, next year, or five years from now.
Build our brand
We’re building an international brand, fast. We set ambitious goals. We challenge and support each other in equal measure. At the pace we’re moving, we prefer to test ideas and learn quickly rather than spend months building a business case. That means we celebrate when things go right, and we learn when things go wrong.
Sound like a team you want to join? Here’s how you’ll make a difference:
The role
You will be responsible for:
- Contract Negotiation – Leading negotiations and sourcing of new services alongside drafting and reviewing supply agreements to secure favourable terms
- Contract and Supplier Management – Leading supplier relationship management process end to end and monitoring contract
- Providing strategic support to the wider business to ensure effective commercial outcomes
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation – Identify potential risks in suppliers/contracts and develop strategies to minimise exposure and protect company interests
- Identifying cost management and value add opportunities for the business in line with strategic initiatives
- Supporting in delivering growth at Tails.com through category sourcing strategies
- Monitoring market trends and providing insights to the business
The skills you’ll bring:
- Demonstrated commercial smarts and outstanding numerical analysis
- Minimum 5 years experience in services procurement
- Ideally experience managing marketing and media related categories
- Advanced negotiation skills
- Excellent communication and presentation skills in English – written and verbal
- A supportive and collaborative leadership style to promote and support a best procurement practice
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary, reviewed annually
- Annual bonus, based on company performance
- Flexible core hours, giving you true work life balance
- Hybrid role to ensure this role works for you
- 25 days of holiday (excluding bank holidays) which increases over time to a max of 27 days
- 9/10 day working week to enhance your wellbeing without a reduction in pay and leave allowance
- Optional 5 days unpaid leave and 1 paid volunteer day each year
- When you need a change of scenery, you can work from abroad 2 weeks every 6 months
- Health insurance for you, paid by Tails.com
- Extended maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay. 6 months at 70% pay
- Flexible paid care leave to support immediate dependants, people close to you and pets
An external financial coach to support a range of topics – debt management, savings and investments - In house L&D team, with access to year round courses to help drive your development
- 50% discount on all Tails.com and 40% on Republic of Cats products
- Discounted gym membership
What’s next?
If this sounds like it matches your experience and what you’d love to do, we can’t wait to hear from you! If you’re unsure whether you fit our criteria exactly, please get in touch anyway. And because we believe that diverse teams perform better, we’d especially love to hear from you if you’re from an under-represented demographic.
Here’s a taster of how our recruitment process works:
- Once you have applied your CV will be reviewed by the Talent team
- If selected, you will then have a call with the Talent team to understand more about your skills and experience (30 mins)
- Should you be successful, the next stage will be a video call with the hiring manager and finance director (45 mins)
- If successful, you will be invited to present a task back to hiring manager and key stakeholders (60 mins)
Our Commitment
We’re proud to be an active equal opportunity employer. We want to give everyone a fair chance to join us in changing the world of pet food for good. We do this by conducting a structured recruitment process for all candidates, as well as actively promoting our roles to communities that are under-represented at Tails.com.
During your interview process you’ll meet some of our team with varying levels of responsibility and experience. We want to give every candidate a fair interview process and if you need any reasonable adjustments made, please let us know.
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Procurement Manager - Indirects employer: Nestlé
Contact Detail:
Nestlé Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Manager - Indirects
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the pet food industry and Tails.com’s unique approach to tailored dog food. Understanding their business model and how they differentiate themselves in the market will help you articulate your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in contract negotiation and supplier management during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully navigated complex negotiations or improved supplier relationships.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills by discussing how you've used data to drive procurement decisions in the past. Tails.com values a data-driven approach, so be ready to share insights from your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your collaborative leadership style by sharing examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams. Tails.com is looking for someone who can support best practices in procurement while fostering teamwork.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Manager - Indirects
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in procurement, especially in services and marketing categories. Use specific examples that demonstrate your negotiation skills and commercial acumen.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the pet food industry and how your skills align with Tails.com's mission. Mention your experience in supplier relationship management and risk assessment to show you understand the role's requirements.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires outstanding numerical analysis, include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This could be through cost management or identifying market trends.
Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions related to contract negotiation and supplier management. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in the past and how they led to successful outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nestlé
✨Show Your Commercial Smarts
Demonstrate your understanding of commercial strategies and numerical analysis during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience that highlight your ability to negotiate favorable terms and manage supplier relationships effectively.
✨Highlight Your Negotiation Skills
Since advanced negotiation skills are crucial for this role, come ready with examples of successful negotiations you've led. Discuss the strategies you used and how they benefited your previous employers, especially in services procurement.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Excellent communication is key. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, both in written and verbal formats. Be ready to present your ideas and insights in a way that showcases your leadership style and collaborative approach.
✨Be Data-Driven
Tails.com values data-driven decision-making. Prepare to discuss how you've used data to inform your procurement strategies and risk assessments in the past. Show that you can identify market trends and leverage insights to drive growth.