Procurement Manager, Food

JR United Kingdom; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job description

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Are you ready to make a significant impact in the world of food procurement? This prestigious group, renowned for its diverse and dynamic brands, is seeking a talented Food Procurement Specialist to manage and optimise their 'fruit and veg' and 'bakery' categories across the UK and Ireland, with potential expansion beyond.

Our central support office provides essential services such as financial, HR, IT, and Supply Chain to our group companies, each retaining its unique personality while operating across multiple catering and hospitality markets.

Recent acquisitions have opened exciting new opportunities for the group.

As a Food Procurement Specialist, you will:

• Collaborate with the Head of Food Procurement to define and execute category strategies that align with our business objectives, adding value, mitigating risk, driving cost savings, and achieving our Second Nature (ESG) targets.
• Manage category strategies and project pipelines, working with cross-functional teams to deliver successful outcomes.
• Ensure supplier compliance with our tiering system and Supplier Code of Conduct, on-boarding new suppliers as needed.
• Conduct regular review meetings and joint business plans (JBPs) with core suppliers.
• Effectively manage costs through price reviews, bench-marking, and end-to-end tender processes.
• Draft, negotiate, and finalise clear and concise contractual documentation, ensuring alignment with commercial finance processes and KPIs.
• Build and maintain a network of internal stakeholders across multiple functions to support procurement objectives and drive continuous improvement.
• Serve as a Business Partner for defined operating companies, attending regular meetings to understand challenges, update on market conditions, and communicate purchasing activities.
• Ensure effective communication on project delivery status with all operating businesses.
• Support Supply Chain Solutions, Technical and Quality Assurance, and Commercial Finance teams with escalations and urgent matters.

They are looking for someone with:

• A proven track record in Food Procurement with 5-7 years of experience.
• Expertise in category management and strategic sourcing across multiple categories.
• In-depth knowledge of sourcing and procurement principles and best practices.
• Excellent negotiation and networking skills to achieve the best results for the business.