At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sustainable procurement strategies and optimise supplier relationships for maximum value.
- Company: Join a leading FMCG company committed to ethical sourcing and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Empower your career while working on exciting projects across multiple geographies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced role that values innovation and teamwork.
- Qualifications: Degree or equivalent with experience in procurement and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Overview
PURPOSE & IMPACT: The role supports the execution of the procurement strategy for the segment by ensuring business requirements are met through procuring goods and services in a sustainable and ethical way, whilst optimising costs, maintaining quality standards and mitigating supply chain risks. We need a proactive self-starter who can build strong, meaningful relationships with stakeholders across multiple functions and multiple geographies. A persuasive manner with the ability to both challenge and influence internal stakeholders and suppliers alike are crucial. The role requires the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, build processes and develop team members. The role would suit someone that has a strong bias for action to deliver against both deadlines and financial targets.
Responsibilities
- Delivers Commercial Value
- Maximises end to end value creation by optimising the supplier base, leveraging our scale, harmonising specifications for goods/services and standardising payment and other contractual terms with suppliers.
- Continuously strives to identify ways to unlock value, working collaboratively with suppliers to identify what both parties can do to sustainably reduce costs.
- Uses market intelligence to forecast both price and market trends, leveraging this knowledge in negotiations with suppliers to deliver value.
- Owns the delivery of annual targets for productivity improvements, materials productivity and reductions in COGs for the total category, including team members.
- Sources goods & services in a sustainable and ethical way
- Minimises the environmental impact of our supply chain by working with the Sustainability Team to define the sustainable and ethical sourcing action plan for the category and taking ownership of its delivery.
- Proactively builds supply chain resilience, taking proactive steps to de-risk our supply chain through the identification and resolution of risks.
- Owns Supplier Performance
- Leads the process to identify and select appropriate and compliant suppliers for their category.
- Owns the management of supplier relationships, tailoring the approach by category or product as required.
- Measures and tracks supplier performance, proactively resolving any issues - quality, service or cost - whilst ensuring supplier compliance with internal policies and external regulations and laws.
- Where a supplier provides goods/services across multiple categories, then the Buyer with the highest spend will take the lead on managing the relationship and/or managing the rationalisation/insourcing discussions.
- Delivers project outcomes on time and in full
- Enables successful changes to products & SKU rationalisation by proactively engaging with other teams, bringing insights from market intelligence and supplier performance to inform decisions, and taking ownership for delivery of procurement actions.
- Leads and Develops Team Members
- Fosters a culture of empowerment and ownership with direct reports, creating the right systems and processes for them to proceed.
- Supports team members to proactively manage their careers and development areas.
- Takes ownership and accountability for results of all direct reports.
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent.
- Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) or similar qualification.
- Experience of working in multi-national, commercial organisations of scale is essential. FMCG and Food Manufacturing sector experience preferred.
- Extensive experience in a procurement function within a matrix organisation.
- Proven track record of delivering commercial value through excellent negotiation skills, strong supplier relationship management and commercial awareness.
- Experience of working on multi-function, multi-geography and multi-category activities and projects.
- Excellent communication and analytical skills distilling detailed information down into key clear messages.
Category Manager – Ingredients employer: UNAVAILABLE
As a Category Manager – Ingredients, you will thrive in a dynamic and inclusive work environment that prioritises sustainability and ethical practices. Our company fosters a culture of empowerment, offering robust career development opportunities and the chance to make a tangible impact on our supply chain resilience. With a focus on collaboration across diverse teams and geographies, we ensure that your contributions are valued and recognised, making us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager – Ingredients
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. Show us you understand their values and how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to influence and persuade. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to sharpen those skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager – Ingredients
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Procurement:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for procurement shine through! We want to see how you can bring value to our team and how your experience aligns with our goals. Make it personal and relatable!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic CV! We love seeing applications that are tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement, especially in sustainable sourcing and supplier management, to catch our eye.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! When detailing your achievements and experiences, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read and understand your key contributions.
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at UNAVAILABLE
✨Know Your Procurement Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the company's procurement strategy and how it aligns with their business goals. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to optimising costs and maintaining quality standards while ensuring sustainable sourcing.
✨Build Your Relationship Skills
Since this role requires strong relationship-building skills, think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed supplier relationships or collaborated with cross-functional teams. Highlight your ability to influence and challenge stakeholders effectively.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Prowess
Prepare to discuss how you've used market intelligence in previous roles to forecast trends and negotiate better deals. Bring specific examples that demonstrate your analytical skills and how they led to tangible results in cost reduction or value creation.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Style
As a Category Manager, you'll be expected to lead and develop team members. Think about your leadership style and be prepared to share how you've empowered your team in the past. Discuss any systems or processes you've implemented to foster a culture of ownership and accountability.
