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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead category strategy and supplier negotiations to boost sales and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join a top UK food & drink wholesaler with a high-performing team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong benefits package, and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG buying, strong negotiation skills, and commercial acumen.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Sea Global are delighted to be partnering with one of the UK's leading food & drink wholesalers, to recruit a Category Buying Manager within their team. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing commercial function focused on driving sales, margin, and customer satisfaction across a key category.
This role will take full ownership of category strategy, supplier negotiations, own brand growth, and commercial performance. They are looking for an experienced FMCG buying professional, ideally with exposure to fresh, frozen, bakery, or ambient categories, who can operate autonomously and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Role & Responsibilities
- Develop and implement category plans to deliver business objectives.
- Lead annual supplier negotiations to secure competitive commercial terms and drive year-on-year improvement.
- Grow own brand performance through strategic sourcing and effective promotional and marketing campaigns.
- Shape category strategy through customer insight and feedback, aligning plans to the broader sell strategy and customer satisfaction goals.
- Ensure product ranges reflect a clear good, better, best proposition across business centres.
Experience & Requirements
- Proven experience within FMCG/Wholesale/Retail buying, ideally with exposure to food categories.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to negotiate, problem-solve, and make autonomous decisions.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to adapt quickly within a dynamic and fast-paced trading environment.
Category Buying Manager in St Albans employer: Sea Global
Contact Detail:
Sea Global Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Buying Manager in St Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Category Buying Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its competitors. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience in FMCG buying can drive their category strategy forward. Show them you mean business!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Category Buying Manager, you’ll need to lead supplier negotiations. We suggest role-playing with a friend or mentor to sharpen those skills before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you stand out. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and the company. Let’s get you that job!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Buying Manager in St Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Buying Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any specific categories like fresh or frozen foods. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past successes in supplier negotiations or category strategy development. We love a good story!
Show Off Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, don’t forget to showcase your strong commercial acumen. Talk about how you've driven sales or improved margins in previous roles. We’re keen to see how you can bring that expertise to our team!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates directly from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sea Global
✨Know Your Categories
Make sure you brush up on the specific food categories mentioned in the job description, like fresh, frozen, bakery, and ambient. Being able to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in these areas will show that you're not just a candidate, but a knowledgeable professional ready to take on the role.
✨Master Negotiation Scenarios
Prepare for potential negotiation scenarios that might come up during the interview. Think about your past experiences and be ready to share specific examples of how you've secured competitive terms or improved margins. This will demonstrate your strong commercial acumen and problem-solving skills.
✨Showcase Stakeholder Management Skills
Since exceptional stakeholder management is key for this role, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with different teams or suppliers. Be ready to discuss how you’ve navigated complex relationships and ensured everyone was aligned towards common goals.
✨Adaptability is Key
Given the fast-paced nature of the industry, be prepared to talk about times when you've had to adapt quickly to changes. Highlight your ability to thrive in dynamic environments and how you can pivot strategies based on customer insights and feedback.
