At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell across Europe, ensuring value and supplier performance.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading global food brand.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, early finishes, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible work culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while driving sustainability and innovation.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in procurement or supply chain, strong analytical and negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
About the role
The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading procurement activities across the Pan European Region for all three core brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), ensuring value delivery, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. This role blends strategic thinking with operational execution, requiring strong stakeholder engagement and data‑driven decision‑making.
What will you spend your time doing
- Monitor supplier performance and conduct reviews against KPIs and SLAs.
- Maintain and optimise supplier relationships.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures.
- Drive and create the overall strategy for the category.
- Lead or support strategic sourcing initiatives and transformation programmes.
- Lead and play a critical role in managing the tendering process to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and value for money.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders on cost‑saving, sustainability and innovative projects.
- Drive procurement input into new product development or service launches.
- Partner with Global procurement teams, influencing global category plans and decisions.
- Analyse spend data to identify cost reduction opportunities.
- Develop dashboards and reports to track procurement performance.
- Use market intelligence and benchmarking to inform sourcing strategies.
- Assess and mitigate supplier risks including financial, operational, and geopolitical.
- Maintain supplier risk contingency plans where applicable.
- Work with legal and compliance teams to ensure regulatory adherence.
- Negotiate, draft, and manage supplier contracts, in partnership with legal.
- Ensure contract lifecycle management and renewal tracking.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across departments.
- Act as a trusted advisor to business units on procurement matters.
- Facilitate supplier engagement workshops, QBRs and feedback sessions.
- Maintain and ensure strong relationships are upheld between procurement and the supplier base.
What we love from you
- Strong analytical skills, ability to extract meaningful conclusions from data.
- Experience in a food service/FMCG or retail environment preferred.
- Pack and/or beverage experience desired but not essential.
- Ability to manage projects as well as category strategy execution.
- Track record of achievement and delivery.
- Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management.
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Proven experience of working collaboratively in complex stakeholder environment.
- Stakeholder engagement skills, capable of influencing at all levels.
- Proven experience in understanding contract KPIs and successfully driving supplier performance.
- 6+ years in an analyst, buyer, supply chain or equivalent role preferably in retail, food service, FMCG.
- 5+ years of experience in a procurement, sourcing or buying role.
Skills
- Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Quick to learn and apply new knowledge.
- Positive mindset and resilient outlook.
- Values action over activity.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
About you
- A genuine team player.
- A self‑starter with curiosity, energy and adaptability.
- Hungry to learn and thrive in a small, mighty team.
- A practical problem‑solver with strong commercial instincts.
- Obsessed with high standards, momentum and getting things done.
What’s in it for you
We offer benefits that make your life that little bit easier, because we know the juggle is real. From flexible, hybrid working to Fri‑Yay early finishes and Live Well Days, we’ve created a package that supports the real you, in and out of work. You’ll get:
- Hybrid working from our Woking RSC (just 24 mins from London). This role is remote based but occasional visits to our RSC will be required.
- Up to 11% company pension contributions.
- Fri‑Yay finishes at 1pm every Friday.
- 5 Live Well Days a year, just for you.
- Bonus scheme linked to company & personal performance.
- Private healthcare, Digital GP access & mental health coaching.
- Enhanced parental leave and flexible return options.
- Study support, income protection, life cover & more.
Category Manager in Woking employer: Yum! Brands
Join a dynamic team as a Category Manager at our Woking RSC, where we prioritise employee well-being and professional growth. Enjoy flexible hybrid working, early finishes on Fridays, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous pension contributions, private healthcare, and study support. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and encourages you to thrive in a fast-paced environment while making a meaningful impact across our iconic brands.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around supplier performance and risk mitigation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to deliver value and optimise supplier relationships.
✨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 in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in procurement and any relevant achievements that align with the job description. We want to see how your skills can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about procurement and how your background makes you a perfect fit for this role. Be sure to mention specific projects or experiences that showcase your strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since strong analytical skills are key for this position, don’t forget to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles. We love seeing how you can turn numbers into actionable insights!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Yum! Brands
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills. Brush up on your data analysis techniques and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Prepare examples of how you've identified cost-saving opportunities or improved supplier performance through data.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Negotiation is key in procurement. Think about your past experiences where you successfully negotiated contracts or supplier terms. Be prepared to share specific strategies you used and the outcomes. This will show your potential employer that you can handle the complexities of supplier relationships.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This role requires strong stakeholder engagement skills. Before the interview, consider how you've collaborated with different teams in previous positions. Be ready to discuss how you’ve influenced decisions at various levels and maintained strong relationships across departments.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
The role blends strategic thinking with operational execution. Prepare to talk about how you've developed and executed category strategies in the past. Highlight any innovative projects you've led or contributed to, especially those that align with sustainability or cost-saving initiatives.
