Category Manager - Restaurant Indirects

KFC UK & Ireland; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fast-food company is seeking a Procurement Manager to oversee procurement activities across Europe for its core brands. In this role, you will manage supplier relationships, ensure compliance with policies, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives. Candidates should have a background in supply chain management, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to analyze data. Competitive benefits include hybrid working, company pension contributions, and discounts on food.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Up to 11% pension contributions

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Bonus scheme

Private healthcare

25% off food

Qualifications

• Experience in food service or FMCG environment preferred.
• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement activities across the Pan European Region.
• Ensure supplier performance and risk mitigation.
• Manage supplier relationships and conduct performance reviews.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Microsoft Excel

Contract management

Education

Degree in relevant field

Tools

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Welcome to KFC. Home of the real ones.

We sell the world’s best chicken. Seriously. And we’ve done it since 1939, when the idea of crispy, original recipe chicken took Kentucky by storm. Now, we’re proud to serve 1000+ communities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the grit, pride and iconic reputation that we started with, all those years ago.

Across the Restaurant Support Centre (RSC), we come to work to be ourselves, and to make something of ourselves. We want to see our potential go that little bit further, as part of one of the world’s most iconic brands.

What’s the gig? Well, you support our restaurants — and we’ll support you every step of the way. Simple. Our doors are open — and they can take you anywhere.

All we ask is that you be you. Because that makes us, us. Sound good? Great. Let’s find out about that job.

The Team

We’re the engine behind the bucket - making sure every restaurant has what it needs, when it needs it. From sourcing ingredients to delivering packaging, furniture, and even marketing, our Supply Chain & Procurement team owns the journey from farm to fingers. We think big, challenge the status quo, and collaborate across the business to keep KFC running smoothly and growing strong.

About the role.

The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading procurement activities across the Pan European Region for all 3 core brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), ensuring value delivery, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. This role blends strategic thinking with operational execution, requiring strong stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making.

What you’ll do :

General Supplier Management

• Maintain and optimise supplier relationships
• Monitor supplier performance and conduct reviews against KPIs and SLAs.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

Key Strategic Projects & Tenders

• Drive and create the overall strategy for the category
• Lead or support strategic sourcing initiatives and transformation programmes.
• Lead and play a critical role in managing the tendering process to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and value for money
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders on cost-saving, sustainability and innovative projects.
• Drive procurement input into new product development or service launches.
• Partner with Global procurement teams, influencing global category plans and decisions.

Driving Value Through Data-Driven Insight

• Analyse spend data to identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Develop dashboards and reports to track procurement performance.
• Use market intelligence and benchmarking to inform sourcing strategies.

Managing Supplier Risk

• Assess and mitigate supplier risks including financial, operational, and geopolitical.
• Maintain supplier risk contingency plans where applicable.
• Work with legal and compliance teams to ensure regulatory adherence.

Contract Management & Governance

• Negotiate, draft, and manage supplier contracts, in partnership with legal.
• Ensure contract lifecycle management and renewal tracking.

Stakeholder Management & Relationship Building

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across departments.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business units on procurement matters.
• Facilitate supplier engagement workshops, QBR’s and feedback sessions. Maintaining and ensuring strong relationships are upheld between procurement and the supplier base.

External Relationship Building

• Represent the company in supplier forums and industry events.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers.
• Stay abreast of market trends and innovations.

Experience

• Experience in a food service / FMCG or retail environment preferred
• Track record of consistent execution and delivery
• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills
• Proven experience of working collaboratively in complex stakeholder environment
• Stakeholder engagement skills, capable of influencing at all levels
• Proven experience of outside the box thinking and comfort in challenging the status quo
• Proven experience in understanding contract KPIs and successfully driving supplier performance
• Strong experience in an Analyst, Buyer, Supply chain or equivalent role preferably in retail, food service, FMCG

ABOUT YOU

• Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Quick to learn and apply new knowledge
• Values action over activity
• Good verbal and written communication skillsEffective team worker
• Strong drive for results and ambitious to grow and develop within the organization

What’s in it for you :

We offer benefits that make your life that little bit easier — because we know the juggle is real.

From flexible, hybrid working to Fri-Yay early finishes and Live Well Days, we’ve created a package that supports the real you, in and out of work.

You’ll get :

🏠 Hybrid working from our Woking RSC (just 24 mins from London)

💸 Up to 11% company pension contributions

🎉 Fri-Yay finishes at 1pm every Friday

🌴 25 days’ holiday (plus bank hols)

🧘 5 Live Well Days a year, just for you

🎯 Bonus scheme linked to company & personal performance

🩺 Private healthcare, Digital GP access & mental health coaching

👶 Enhanced parental leave and flexible return options

📚 Study support, income protection, life cover & more

🍗 And yes — 25% off the chicken

Because real ones deserve real rewards.

The Road to becoming a real one...

• Apply (Go on... do it) – send us your CV and answer a couple of app questions.
• Intro call with our Talent Team
• Virtual call with Hiring Manager + an excel task.
• Virtual call with a stakeholder.

Ready?

We hope so, if you’re ready to be part of our community, now’s the time to apply.

Beware of fake job postings using Yum! and / or our brand logos KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill on fraudulent sites. Yum! Brands only posts jobs on official careers pages and never asks for money during onboarding. Avoid unsolicited contacts via Telegram, WhatsApp or similar social apps.