Junior Buyer

Foodbuy; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food procurement organisation is looking for a Junior Category Buyer to join their NHS-focused team in Chester. This role involves supporting procurement processes, stakeholder engagement, and analysing data for savings. Ideal for candidates passionate about the food or hospitality industry, with opportunities for structured learning and development.

Benefits

Structured learning and development programmes

Supportive team environment

Clear career pathways

Qualifications

• Passionate about food or hospitality sector with interest in public procurement.
• Some experience or knowledge of Microsoft Office tools required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Support procurement processes across categories, including running tenders and e-auctions.
• Help maintain accurate systems and documentation for procurement governance.
• Assist with creation of competition documents and contribute to SOPs.

Skills

Proactive

Analytical skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Knowledge of procurement

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jaggaer eProcurement

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