Senior Procurement Category Manager

Job Introduction

We’re looking for an ambitious and highly motivated Senior Procurement Category Manager to join our Category Management team who are responsible for delivering key cost savings to our business whilst driving our responsible sourcing strategy and ensuring we meet our CSR commitments. Accountable for a portfolio of categories within the FM space with a spend of £30m - £50m, you’ll develop the category sourcing strategy, set and deliver ambitious annual savings objectives, enabling the team to meet the regional target achievement, and embed a culture of innovation through our suppliers and partners.

You’ll be capable of building excellent working relationships, using your expertise and experience to leverage and influence decisions. You’ll be commercially minded and able to work to key cost savings targets and have a real passion for delivering ethical sourcing strategies. In this senior role you’ll play a huge part in developing and mentoring our talent of the future.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a difference, add significant value and build your future career this could be the role for you!

You’ll be home based with some travel required to Sodexo offices, sites and suppliers.

Role Responsibility

• Lead a sourcing strategy across the UK & ROI covering both technical and quality requirements for the service line requirements  
• Design and Implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at a regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk.
• Engage with the global buying teams in an active collaboration for developing categories globally
• Build a strong network within the Supply Management both at a regional and local level
• Build a strong network within Service Operations at a regional level 
• Co-deliver supplier solutions with the regional buying team to ensure best in class options and agreements for the business.
• 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

• Proven experience in a result orientated Procurement, Buying or Category Management role, delivering ambitious cost savings
• Ability in working in a multi-cultural, matrix environment and build strong working relationships whereby you can influence decisions and outcomes
• Excellent financial acumen and a proven-track records in complex contract negotiation
• Able to communicate effectively, articulate complex information clearly and present information and results in a structured and professional manner
• CIPS or ISM or equivalent qualification would be highly advantageous
• Excellent external networking capabilities and the ability to drive innovation through supply chains
• Strong project management skills and experience
• Knowledge of the FM industry and experience working with soft and hard FM categories industry and procuring sub-contractors across Hard, and Soft FM such as lifts, fire and security, water treatment, HVAC, M&E, electrical wholesalers, pest control, concierge and reception, and security.

Package Description

Highly competitive salary plus benefits and bonus 

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 around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.  

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

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