Account Manager

WatchHouse - Support Office; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive company in Greater London seeks a Procurement Manager to oversee the full procurement cycle across direct and indirect categories. The role involves managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving cost efficiencies while ensuring quality standards. Ideal candidates will have strong commercial acumen, excellent relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of procurement processes. The position also emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and stakeholder management in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to negotiate effectively.
• Excellent relationship-building skills across suppliers and internal teams.
• Deep understanding of supply chains, procurement processes and category management.
• Highly organised with strong project-management skills.
• Proactive, solutions-focused, and comfortable challenging the status quo.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier sourcing and selection across all categories.
• Negotiate commercial terms to maximise value and protect margins.
• Manage supplier quality, performance, contracts and compliance.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving initiatives across the business.
• Drive continuous improvement in cost efficiency.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Relationship-building

Data-driven decision-making

Project management

Detail-oriented

Job description

Procurement Manager at WatchHouse.

In short: The Procurement Manager ensures the business buys the right products and services, at the best value, from the right suppliers. They manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, monitor spend, and work closely with operational teams to drive consistent quality, cost efficiency, and reliability across the business.

Directly reports into (Line Manager): James Elliott, Finance Director

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead supplier sourcing and selection across all categories (other than coffee), including capital projects.
• Negotiate commercial terms to maximise value and protect margins.
• Manage supplier quality, performance, contracts and compliance.
• Own procurement budgeting, forecasting and spend reporting.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving initiatives across the business.
• Lead RFPs, tenders and category reviews.
• Partner with Operations, Food, Coffee, Property, Franchise, Marketing and Finance on product and service needs.
• Ensure continuity of supply and proactive risk management.
• Manage utilities, insurance and other indirect procurement partners.
• Build and maintain a centralised procurement framework and policy.

The role in more detail: The Procurement Manager will oversee the full end-to-end procurement cycle across both direct (food, beverage, packaging) and indirect categories (utilities, insurance, equipment, services). For coffee specifically, they will work alongside the Coffee team to demonstrate and train best practice.

They will identify supplier opportunities, run structured procurement processes, and ensure we are partnering with suppliers that are commercially competitive, reliable and aligned with our brand and quality standards. This point is critical. While we should always be pushing for the best possible price, we need to remain cognisant of our brand and the quality we want to deliver to guests.

The role requires close collaboration with all other departments, particularly Food, Coffee and Property, to understand business needs, track consumption, monitor supplier performance and analyse spend. They will maintain robust contract management, lead supplier negotiations and ensure compliance with company purchasing policies.

A key part of the role is driving continuous improvement in cost efficiency, including developing category strategies, leading price reviews, assessing make-versus-buy opportunities and reducing waste or inefficiencies. They will also manage relationships with utilities brokers, insurance partners and other indirect suppliers to ensure competitive rates and reliable service.

Ultimately, the Procurement Manager will create a scalable procurement function that supports business growth, protects margins and ensures operational continuity.

Key to this role:

Commercial & Analytical Skills

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to negotiate effectively.
• Data-driven decision-making and confident working with cost models, spend analysis and performance metrics.

Stakeholder Management

• Excellent relationship-building skills across suppliers and internal teams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate business needs into procurement actions.

Operational Understanding

• Deep understanding of supply chains, procurement processes and category management.
• Experience in hospitality, retail, FMCG or other multi-site environments (ideal).

Organisation & Delivery

• Highly organised with strong project-management skills.
• Able to handle multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously.

Behavioural Attributes

• Proactive, solutions-focused, and comfortable challenging the status quo.
• Detail-oriented with high standards for quality and compliance.

Working at WatchHouse.

WatchHouse was born from a passion to do better. Diligence and attention to detail are paramount to what we do, we focus on the detail. We strive for perfection. We really care.

We are a people‑first business, curious and interested in those around us. We treat everyone with respect. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, equality is insisted and inclusion expected.

A company where we believe in having the right person in the role; personality and individuality at the top of the list of what we are looking for in applications and throughout our hiring process.

We also know that everyone is different, and we value and respect diversity, standing up for equality and standing against any form of discrimination.

Decisions about and the treatment of people at work should be based on the individual’s abilities, skills, performance and behaviour – these should be assessed against the WatchHouse job description requirements for each individual role.

We are always patient and considerate towards others. Encouraging, approachable and communicating brilliantly. We strive to be the best we can be, by giving and receiving regular and honest feedback in a professional manner.

We plan ahead, prioritise and are mindful and respect the time of others. We complete every task to the best of our ability. Always happy to ask for help, work in cohesion with other people/ departments and share successes.

We work to make WatchHouse an environment of trust and camaraderie, where others are inspired to play their part in working effectively together. Building strong relationships with others and demonstrating positive energy. We recognise and value the contribution of others across the business, working together to deliver the Modern Coffee experience to each and every person touched by our business.

Our four core values – passion, drive, diligence and empathy – are what makes WatchHouse who we are. Our decisions are made based on these principles. To grow and succeed at WatchHouse, it is imperative that these values also resonate strongly with you and can drive your ambition in the same way they do ours.