Category Manager - Food & Beverage

Job Introduction

Love food? Got a passion for procurement? We’re looking for an ambitious and experienced Category Manager with amazing influencing skills and looking to take their career to the next level within the world of Food & Beverage. Initially looking after a spend of circa £30-40m you’ll be keen to make an impact on efficiency and bottom line profitability whilst driving our corporate and social responsibilities with an ethical sourcing strategy.

Owning the 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 be a natural leader and be passionate about the development of those around and in the wider Supply Management team. You’ll bring the ability to juggle multiple priorities and the mindset of rolling up your sleeves to get stuck in!

In this newly defined structure, which sets Sodexo apart from our competitors, you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself professionally and further develop your negotiation, stakeholder management and influencing skills.

There will be a requirement for national and potentially international travel in this role once it is safe to do so.

Role Responsibility

• Design and implement responsible category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at a regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk around supply continuity
• To lead the sourcing strategy across the UK&I covering both technical and quality performance for the service lines
• Engage with our global buying teams in active collaboration for developing categories globally
• Engage with our food platform to develop key menu offers for all diverse business segments
• Engage and partner with Sodexo acquisitions to design a category strategy which leverages total group spend
• Build a strong network across Supply Management at a global, regional and local level
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across Supply Management in the UK (Deployment and SRM teams) and key business segments
• Be able to understand the differences between the UK and ROI geographical requirements and business needs when developing the sourcing strategy
• Ensure the relevant due diligence and best practice buying processes are adopted across all categories within remit

The Ideal Candidate

What’s essential:

• Proven experience in the design of sourcing and category management strategies
• Experience developing innovative ways of working with an ability to challenge to the status quo
• CIPS qualified or equivalent
• Proven-track records in contract negotiation
• Financial acumen, ability to achieve results with strong commercial awareness
• Leadership and management of category and associated initiates
• Capable of influencing stakeholders internally and externally
• Strong presentation skills both verbally and written  
• Team player with excellent communication skills

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 race, colour, sex, gender identity  disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age, social class, educational background, employment status, working pattern, are welcome to and included within our organisation.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

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.