Junior Buyer

Medirest Signature; Chester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food procurement organization in Chester is seeking a proactive Junior Category Buyer to support NHS procurement processes. You will engage with data analysis and procurement governance, contribute to sourcing initiatives, and assist in documentation for tenders and e-auctions. Ideal for individuals with a keen interest in the food or hospitality sectors. This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development while making a positive impact in public sector services.

Benefits

Structured learning and development programs

Career pathways

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Passionate about the food or hospitality sector.
• Some experience with Microsoft Office tools required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support procurement processes across categories.
• Maintain accurate systems and documentation.
• Assist with creation of competition documents.
• Support supplier management and stakeholder engagement.
• Analyze data to support cost savings.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in systems.
• Contribute to category strategy and sourcing initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office tools

Problem-solving

Job description

Junior Category Buyer

Location:Chester / Hybrid (UK-based)
Company: Foodbuy UK

Join Foodbuy UK, a leading food procurement organisation managing over £1 billion in annual spend across the foodservice and hospitality sectors. Since 2018, we've proudly supported over 150 NHS Trusts by delivering compliant, value-driven food procurement as part of the NHS Supply Chain: Food contract.

We're now looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Junior Category Buyer to join our NHS-focused team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a passion for procurement, data, or the food and hospitality industry to develop in a purpose-driven environment. You'll play a vital role in supporting the end-to-end procurement process for key categories-helping to ensure accurate systems, effective stakeholder engagement, and robust sourcing in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Key Responsibilities

• Support procurement processes across categories, including running tenders, DPS, and e-auctions through the Jaggaer eProcurement platform.

• Help maintain accurate systems, trackers, and documentation to support effective procurement governance.

• Assist with the creation of further competition documents and contribute to SOPs, guides, and templates.

• Support supplier management and stakeholder engagement across NHS Trusts and internal teams.

• Analyse data to support cost savings, category strategies, and procurement efficiency.

• Identify opportunities for improvement within procurement systems and processes.

• Contribute to category strategy and sourcing initiatives that drive value and innovation in public sector food procurement.

About You

• Passionate about the food or hospitality sector with an interest in public procurement.

• Some experience or knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) required.

• Prior experience in procurement or the public sector is desirable but not essential.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; comfortable working with data and systems.

• Clear communicator with the ability to build relationships across teams and stakeholders.

• Well-organised, detail-oriented, and proactive in managing multiple tasks and priorities.

• Curious and eager to learn, with a mindset for continuous improvement and personal development.

Why Join Foodbuy?

• Work on projects that make a real difference-supporting the NHS through smarter food procurement.

• Access to structured learning and development programmes and clear career pathways.

• Join a supportive, high-performing team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Grow your procurement skills while making a positive impact on public sector services