At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Sugar & Sweeteners category, driving sourcing strategies and supplier relationships.
- Company: Join a fast-growing global biscuits and confectionery business with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of a purpose-led team that brings happiness through quality products.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you. As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don't compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.
To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive because we expect pace and agility, insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact.
The Team: The Procurement team is made of 110 professionals working across the world to create competitive advantage for pladis through mid-term sourcing strategies and strong supplier relationships. Our 2025 Procurement vision aims at delivering more value for the business along 5 key business deliverables: Supply Continuity, Cost Out, Cash Flow optimization, Sustainability and Supplier Innovation. We work as a matrix organization, with Global Categories leveraging the pladis global size and Local Procurement ensuring a strong connection and proximity with our 5 regions (UK & Ireland, Western Europe & Emerging markets, Middle East - North Africa - India, Turkey - Eastern Europe - Central Asia, and North America).
The Role: Within Global Categories, the Sugar & Sweeteners Category Head reports directly to the Raw Materials Categories Lead, who in turn reports into the CPO. They drive (in alignment with Regional Procurement teams) the Sugar & Sweeteners Category (£200M spend). The Category includes beet sugar, cane sugar and all other sweetening agents (glucose, fructose, aspartame, maltodextrin...)
Key responsibilities include:
- Designing, formalizing & implementing a 2 to 3 years forward sourcing strategy, after ensuring full alignment with the business
- Implementing all Procurement-driven processes & tools within his/her categories
- Building strong relationships across all pladis functions (R&D, Operations, Engineering, Finance, Marketing), influencing pladis strategy in relation with sugars & sweets (competitivity, innovation, sustainability) and working with all key stakeholders to accelerate project implementation
- Driving Procurement teams in regions to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation of global sourcing strategies, while promoting the sharing of best practices and leading benchmarks across regions
- Lead AOP (budgeting process) for commodity assumptions.
- Delivering top class results across all 5 strategic dimensions of our mission:
- A 3-year productivity roadmap to achieve sustainable savings of a minimum of 3.5% per year, through reformulation of our materials or negotiation with our suppliers
- A clear sustainability roadmap (jointly with R&D) to reach the goals set by pladis on its path to carbon neutrality, while creating differentiation in the market
- A clear innovation roadmap (jointly with R&D) to create extra value for consumers across our strategic innovation platforms
- A robust supply continuity plan to assess, anticipate and prevent any disruption to our supply chain
- A strong target to improve cash flow across our operations (payables, stocks of finished goods...)
More specifically with regards to the Category, they will be responsible to:
- Map together with Regional Procurement our requirements for the next 3 years, in order to anticipate our needs as the market evolves. This includes looking at nutritionally-better sources to reach the sweetening power required by consumers (needs analysis)
- Map the market to identify new suppliers in those strategic areas, able to challenge our incumbent suppliers (market analysis)
- Execute our Commodities cover strategy (mostly on raw sugar), with the support of the Procurement Head for Financial Hedging when done through financial instruments.
- Link with Procurement teams in Regions to ensure timely execution of our cover strategy when done through physical contracts.
- Share benchmarks and best practices across all regions
- Define jointly with Procurement in the Regions a Sourcing Strategy (productivity roadmap, innovation roadmap, sustainability roadmap, supplier strategy)
- Build strong SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) with global & strategic suppliers, to build long-term relationship in order to leverage our size whenever it makes sense and get priority access to their sustainability / innovation programs. This includes setting up & monitoring a robust supplier evaluation program.
- Negotiate frame agreements with Global Suppliers, support negotiations in all regions and align supplier selection with Procurement in the Regions.
Sugar & Sweeteners Category Head in London employer: pladis
At pladis, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and inclusive employer that fosters a culture of collaboration and growth. Located in the vibrant Chiswick area of London, our team enjoys access to iconic brands and a supportive environment where entrepreneurial spirits can thrive. With a commitment to employee development and a shared passion for bringing happiness to consumers, pladis offers unparalleled opportunities to make a meaningful impact while working alongside like-minded colleagues.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sugar & Sweeteners Category Head in London
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like pladis.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Sugar & Sweeteners Category Head in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to pladis:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to pladis. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like pladis.
How to prepare for a job interview at pladis
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at pladis!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at pladis. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into pladis's culture.
