Category Manager - FM

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an ambitious Category Manager with amazing influencing skills to join our FM Procurement team. Looking after a spend of circa £40-50m you’ll be keen to make an impact on efficiency and bottom line spend whilst ensuring we meet our corporate and social responsibilities with an ethical sourcing strategy.

Responsible for category strategy you’ll be able to identify efficiencies and implement a high performing supply chain, you’ll deliver a quality service to the Sodexo segments and build strong relationships internally and externally. You’ll balance this strategic approach with the day to day tactical management of the category, often working with complex supply chains and requests from colleagues and co-workers. You’ll bring the ability to juggle multiple priorities and the mindset of rolling up your sleeves to get stuck in!

You’ll be joining a well-established team with heaps of experience who can’t wait to welcome the newest member of their team, working collaboratively whist still maintaining a level of autonomy will be key to your success in this position.

Although this position will not have a fixed location some UK&I travel will be required once safe to do so.

Role Responsibility

• To lead a sourcing strategy across the UK&I covering both technical and quality performance for the service lines.
• Design and implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk.
• Engage with global buying teams in active collaboration for developing categories globally
• Build a strong network within the Supply Management both at a regional and local level
• Work with key stakeholders within Supply Management teams in the UK (Deployment and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) teams
• Be able to take into account the differences between the UK and ROI geographical requirements and business needs when developing the sourcing strategy
• Design and implement adequate strategies to achieve high performance meanwhile ensuring continuity and risk mitigation
• Ensure the relevant due diligence and buying process is adopted across all categories within remit.

The Ideal Candidate

What’s essential:

• Proven experience in Buying/ Category Management
• Ability in working in a multi-cultural and matrix environment
• Proven-track records in contract negotiation
• Strong presentation skills both verbally and written 
• Team player with excellent communication and influencing skills
• Financial acumen and result orientated

Where we can be flexible:

• Working towards CIPS or equivalent qualification
• Experience in specific FM sub-categories e.g. Lifts, Fire & Security, Water treatment, Electrical wholesalers, Cleaning
• Experience of procuring sub-contractors across Hard/Soft FM

Package Description

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 36,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the energy, corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business

At Sodexo we are committed to a leading role in promoting equality opportunities and valuing diversity and inclusion. We seek to create a work environment based on mutual respect for all individuals, building a culture that appreciates and values the experiences and skills brought by each person to benefit our organisation and work hard to ensure that all people, whatever their age, disability, gender, transgender, marital or family status, race or ethnicity, religious belief of sexual orientation are welcome to and included within our business. We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process