Category Buyer

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food supply sector is seeking a Procurement Category Manager to lead sourcing strategies and manage supplier relationships. This role offers the opportunity to develop skills in operations and sustainability while working in a fast-growing environment. Competitive salary and great food perks included.

Benefits

Competitive salary with industry-matching pay reviews

Food perks like product samplings and discounts

Business mentor and coaching for personal development

Opportunities for progression in a rapidly scaling start-up

Qualifications

• Proven experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain roles within the food industry (4+ years preferred).
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of assigned procurement categories and develop strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships and oversee end-to-end procurement processes.
• Conduct cost analysis and drive savings.

Skills

Project Management

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Communication

Commercial Awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Management or related field

Tools

Procurement Software

Google Suite

Job description

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Reporting to Director Procurement & Revenue Operations | Permanent - Full Time | Based in London, UK | Salary: £40 - 50k

We are looking for an experienced Procurement Category manager to join our team. In this role, you will lead the development and execution of sourcing strategies across key food categories whilst maximising gross margin. Responsible for using all levers available to increase sales and margin, alongside supporting development of category strategy to drive future competitive advantage and growth. You will manage supplier relationships, oversee end-to-end procurement processes, and work closely with internal stakeholders to drive margin, efficiency and innovation.

This role, reporting to the Director of Procurement & Revenue Operations, has the opportunity for you to develop, allowing you to grow skills and knowledge in key business areas such as Operations, Account Management, sustainability and Technology.

What you’ll be doing:

• Category Management: Lead the management of assigned procurement categories, developing and executing category strategies aligned with business goals
• Sourcing New Products: Identify and evaluate potential new products and suppliers to support business development, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Work closely with customer NPD to drive innovation and value engineering
• Supplier Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring high performance, compliance, and risk mitigation
• Cost Analysis & Savings Delivery: Conduct detailed cost analysis, benchmarking, and negotiation to drive savings and improve total cost of ownership with targeted annual GM improvement
• Project Management: Oversee and manage procurement-related projects from initiation through to completion, ensuring timely delivery, budget control, and stakeholder engagement
• New Business Tender Submissions: Support and contribute to new business opportunities by coordinating procurement input for tender submissions, including costings, supplier information, and value propositions
• Liaising with Commercial Team: Collaborate closely with stakeholders to align procurement activities with market trends, client requirements and company goals
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders, providing procurement expertise, insight and support for cross-functional initiatives
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure adherence to procurement policies and procedures, supporting ethical and sustainable sourcing and risk management practices

Key stakeholders

• Director Procurement & Revenue Operations - line manager and key Procurement objectives
• Senior Sustainability Manager - achieving our sustainability targets in the product sourcing space
• Account Managers - commercial dynamics of basket development
• Planning Manager - supply and demand balancing
• Senior Product Manager (Tech) - innovation and process development

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain roles within the food industry (4+ years preferred)
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Proficiency in procurement software and Google suite
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking with a proven track record of managing complex supplier relationships.
• Highly organised, excellent attention to detail and able to prioritise to best achieve optimum results from available resources
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Management or a related field preferred

What you’ll get

• Competitive salary with industry-matching pay reviews
• Plus, you get lots of food perks like delicious product samplings and food discounts from our customers
• Great exposure to the food-tech world and the ability to impact a fast-growing, mission-driven food start-up
• Business mentor and coaching to support your growth, development & well being. We recognise the importance of personal development as well as being paid and rewarded for the value you add to the business.
• As a rapidly scaling start-up with recent funding under our belt, the opportunities for progression are many and varied.

Why Collectiv Food?

Collectiv Food is a next generation food and drink supply business, leading the transition to a fair, transparent and sustainable supply chain for Europe’s professional kitchens. Its innovative delivery model enables it to offer market-beating prices and a reliable service, all underpinned by a commitment to sustainability. Founded in 2018, we are based in King’s Cross, London and supported by industry experts and leading venture investors, such as Norrsken VC, Clay Capital, VNV Global, Octopus and Partech.