Category Manager - Directs

RSC; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading quick-service restaurant in the United Kingdom is seeking a Procurement Category Manager to develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies. The role involves collaboration with internal teams to ensure category strategies align with business goals. Ideal candidates will have strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills. Benefits include hybrid working options, company pension contributions, and various health supports. This position is based at the Woking Restaurant Support Centre, just 24 minutes from London.

Benefits

Hybrid working from Woking RSC

Up to 11% company pension contributions

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Private healthcare and mental health coaching

Bonus scheme linked to performance

25% off the chicken

Qualifications

• Strong experience in strategic procurement, category management, or supply chain.
• Proven experience in developing category strategies and managing end-to-end sourcing processes.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies for assigned categories aligned with organizational goals.
• Lead RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ) for sourcing initiatives.
• Identify and manage key suppliers to meet quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Track and report savings and procurement performance metrics.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial acumen

Excel

PowerPoint

Effective teamwork

Education

Professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, CPSM, PMP)

Job description

WelcometoKFC.Homeoftherealones.

Weselltheworld’sbestchicken.Seriously.Andwe’vedoneitsince1939,whentheideaofcrispy,originalrecipechickentookKentuckybystorm.Now,we’reproudtoserve1000+communitiesacrosstheUKandIreland,bringingthegrit,prideandiconicreputationthatwestartedwith,allthoseyearsago.

AcrosstheRestaurantSupportCentre(RSC),wecometoworktobeourselves,andtomakesomethingofourselves.Wewanttoseeourpotentialgothatlittlebitfurther,aspartofoneoftheworld’smosticonicbrands.

What’sthegig?Well,yousupportourrestaurants—andwe’llsupportyoueverystepoftheway.Simple.Ourdoorsareopen—andtheycantakeyouanywhere.

Allweaskisthatyoubeyou.Becausethatmakesus,us.Soundgood?Great.Let’sfindoutaboutthatjob.

TheTeam

We’retheenginebehindthebucket-makingsureeveryrestauranthaswhatitneeds,whenitneedsit.Fromsourcingingredientstodeliveringpackaging,furniture,andevenmarketing,ourSupplyChain&Procurementteamownsthejourneyfromfarmtofingers.Wethinkbig,challengethestatusquo,andcollaborateacrossthebusinesstokeepKFCrunningsmoothlyandgrowingstrong.

Abouttherole.

TheProcurementCategoryManagerisresponsiblefordevelopingandimplementingstrategicsourcingstrategiesforspecificprocurementcategoriestodeliverlong-termvalue,costsavings,riskmitigation,andsupplierperformance.Thisrolerequiresclosecollaborationwithinternalstakeholdersandsupplierstoensurecategorystrategiesalignwithbusinessobjectivesandmarkettrends.

Whatyou’lldo :

CategoryStrategyDevelopment

• Developandimplementprocurementstrategiesforassignedcategoriesalignedwithorganizationalgoals
• Analysemarkettrends,supply / demanddynamics,andsupplierlandscapes

SupplierRelationshipManagement

• Identify,evaluate,andmanagekeysupplierstoensurequality,delivery,andcostobjectivesaremet.
• Leadsuppliernegotiations,performancereviews,andrelationshipmanagementinitiatives.

Sourcing&Contracting

• LeadRFxprocesses(RFI,RFP,RFQ)forsourcinginitiatives.
• Negotiateandmanagecontracts,ensuringcommercialterms,SLAs,andKPIsarealignedwithcompanyrequirements.

StakeholderEngagement

• Actastheprocurementleadandsubjectmatterexpertforassignedcategories.
• Collaboratewithbusinessunits,legal,finance,andtechnicalteamstodefineprocurementrequirementsandensurealignment

CostManagement&SavingsDelivery

• Delivercostsavingsandvaluecreationthroughstrategicsourcing,demandmanagement,andsupplierinnovation.
• Trackandreportsavingsandprocurementperformancemetrics

DTRW

• Drivesustainabilityinitiativeswithinsupplierswhichreduceenvironmentalimpact&supportthebrandscommitmenttoGoodGrowth

Risk&ComplianceManagement

• Identifyandmitigatecategory-specificrisksincludingsupplychaindisruptionsandnon-compliance
• Ensureadherencetoprocurementpolicies,procedures,andregulatoryrequirements

Experience

• Strongexperienceinstrategicprocurement,categorymanagement,orsupplychain.
• Provenexperienceindevelopingcategorystrategiesandmanagingend-to-endsourcingprocesses.
• Strongnegotiation,contractmanagement,andstakeholderengagementskills.
• Commercialandfinancialacumen.
• Experienceinmultinationalormatrixorganizations.
• KnowledgeofESG / sustainableprocurementpractices.
• Professionalcertifications(e.g.,CIPS,CPSM,PMP).

ABOUTYOU

• DemonstrableexperienceinSeniorsupplychainroles,ideallywithinfoodindustryorrelatedfield
• StrongskillsinExcel,PowerPointandOutlook
• Quicktolearnandapplynewknowledge
• Valuesactionoveractivity
• Goodverbalandwrittencommunicationskills
• Effectiveteamworker
• Strongdriveforresultsandambitioustogrowanddevelopwithintheorganization

What’sinitforyou :

Weofferbenefitsthatmakeyourlifethatlittlebiteasier—becauseweknowthejuggleisreal.

Fromflexible,hybridworkingtoFri-YayearlyfinishesandLiveWellDays,we’vecreatedapackagethatsupportstherealyou,inandoutofwork.

You’llget :

• ?HybridworkingfromourWokingRSC(just24minsfromLondon)
• ?Upto11%companypensioncontributions
• ?Fri-Yayfinishesat1pmeveryFriday
• ?25days’holiday(plusbankhols)
• ?5LiveWellDaysayear,justforyou
• ?Bonusschemelinkedtocompany&personalperformance
• ?Privatehealthcare,DigitalGPaccess&mentalhealthcoaching
• ?Enhancedparentalleaveandflexiblereturnoptions
• ?Studysupport,incomeprotection,lifecover&more
• ?Andyes—25%offthechicken

Becauserealonesdeserverealrewards.

TheRoadtobecomingarealone...

• Apply(Goon...doit)–sendusyourCVandansweracoupleofappquestions.
• IntrocallwithourTalentTeam
• VirtualcallwithHiringManager+anexceltask.
• Virtualcallwithastakeholder.

Ready?

Wehopeso,ifyou’rereadytobepartofourcommunity,now’sthetimetoapply.