Category Buyer

Chartwells Independent; Chertsey; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

Exposure to large-scale procurement

Job summary

Foodbuy Group is recruiting a Category Buyer to join the NHS Supply Chain: Food team in a hybrid role with offices in Chertsey, Wakefield or Daresbury. You will lead procurement and category activities across food categories, develop category strategies and drive supplier relationships to maximise value for NHS customers.

The role requires experience in procurement, tendering, and supplier management, with strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, category management, supply chain or commercial roles.
• Experience leading sourcing, tendering or supplier management activities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent analytical and commercial thinking capabilities.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using data and market insight to support commercial decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies that support business and customer objectives.
• Lead end-to-end procurement and tendering activities, from sourcing strategy through to contract award and implementation.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with relevant public sector procurement regulations and governance requirements.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Conduct market analysis and monitor industry trends to identify commercial opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Analyse spend, supplier and market data to support commercial decision making.
• Deliver procurement projects that achieve savings, growth and value targets.
• Collaborate with NHS Trusts, suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver successful procurement outcomes.
• Support framework launches, contract mobilisation activities and ongoing supplier management initiatives.

Job description

Category BuyerNHS Supply Chain: Food

Hybrid | Chertsey, Wakefield or Daresbury (2 days per week in the office)

Foodbuy Group

Foodbuy is a leading food procurement organisation, managing over £2 billion of spend and delivering procurement solutions to some of the UK's largest organisations. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we leverage unrivalled scale, market expertise and data-driven insight to deliver outstanding value, quality and innovation for our customers.

Our NHS Supply Chain: Food team plays a vital role in supporting healthcare providers across the UK. By combining procurement expertise, supply chain excellence and collaborative partnerships, we help NHS organisations deliver safe, sustainable and cost-effective food services to patients, staff and visitors.

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded Category Buyer to join our NHS Supply Chain: Food team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in managing procurement and category activities across a range of food categories, helping NHS customers maximise value, quality and innovation through compliant procurement solutions.

Working closely with suppliers, NHS stakeholders and internal teams, you will develop category strategies, lead sourcing exercises, manage supplier relationships and identify opportunities to drive efficiencies across the NHS food supply chain.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement category strategies that support business and customer objectives.
• Lead end-to-end procurement and tendering activities, from sourcing strategy through to contract award and implementation.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with relevant public sector procurement regulations and governance requirements.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Conduct market analysis and monitor industry trends to identify commercial opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Analyse spend, supplier and market data to support commercial decision making.
• Deliver procurement projects that achieve savings, growth and value targets.
• Collaborate with NHS Trusts, suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver successful procurement outcomes.
• Support framework launches, contract mobilisation activities and ongoing supplier management initiatives.

About You

We're looking for a procurement professional who is passionate about delivering value through strategic sourcing and supplier management.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience in procurement, category management, supply chain or commercial roles.
• Experience leading sourcing, tendering or supplier management activities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent analytical and commercial thinking capabilities.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using data and market insight to support commercial decisions.

It would be advantageous if you have:

• Experience within public sector procurement.
• Knowledge of food procurement, foodservice or FMCG categories.
• Experience working with NHS organisations or procurement frameworks.
• CIPS qualification, or working towards a professional procurement qualification.

What You’ll Bring

• Commercial awareness and sound judgement.
• A collaborative approach to working with internal and external stakeholders.
• A commitment to delivering excellent customer outcomes.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and attention to detail.
• A continuous improvement mindset and a passion for innovation.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working model.
• Excellent career development opportunities within Foodbuy and Compass Group UK & Ireland.
• Exposure to large-scale procurement programmes and strategic category management.
• The opportunity to contribute to improving food services across the NHS.

Foodbuy Group is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.